K.C. Snider, Illustrator and Fine Artist
The Magic Violin
K.C. Snider, an honors graduate from The Eugene School for Art, is a prominent Oregon artist. Her love of the western life and of wildlife has been developed since her youth, with her natural talent for drawing and color exhibited since she was ten years old. She has shared her talents as an Art Instructor at Lane Community College in Eugene, Oregon. Her painting, the "Brothers of the Wolves I", has been published by Colorado's Leanin' Tree, Inc. Her painting, "Spirit of the Hunter," was chosen by Leanin' Tree for the 2006 Christmas card line.
In 2007, K.C. illustrated two children's picture books, "The Christmas Angel," with author Mary Jean Kelso and The Magic Violin
, written by Mayra Calvani. Both books are published by Guardian Angel Publishing and are also available as an e-Book. The Christmas Angel has been an instant success with children, teachers and grandmothers alike. This picture book tells the tale of a young girl who travels with her family to Oregon in the 1830's on the Oregon Trail and protects a very precious possession, the family's Christmas tree topper, a porcelain angel. K.C. has now finished illustrations for the first picture book in a series about an albino horse named "Spirit" and the special children who get to know her. "Andy and the Albino Horse" will be published in April 2008 by Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. A second book in the series from "The Christmas Angel" is also due out in summer 2008. This picture book is titled, "One Family's Christmas." And then in the fall of 2008, the second book in the Andy and Spirit series, "Andy and Spirit Go to the Fair," will be published with more children's picture books to come.
Originally specializing in Western Art, K.C. has branched out into a variety of styles and subjects. Her collection of oil paintings, lithographs, and pencil drawings include portraits of the All-American Cowboy and Cowgirl and their lifestyles of days gone by. Recently, K.C. has been sculpting and is working on her first bronze, "The All-American Cowgirl." K.C. had planned to become an illustrator when she was in art school, but when circumstances such as marriage and family intervened, she turned to fine art as an outlet to express herself. However, K.C. has always considered her work to be a form of illustration because even her paintings "tell a story."
Currently residing in Redmond, Oregon, K.C. is inspired by the natural beauty of the high desert of Central Oregon. K.C.'s paintings incorporate horses of all breeds, majestic wolves and buffalo herds, as well as eagles and other native birds of prey, in their rustic natural habitats. Through her association with the Central Oregon Wild Horse Coalition, K.C. has chosen the wild mustangs of the Ochoco Mountains as her subjects for several paintings including the famous lop-eared adopted wild mustang, Eeyore. The western terrain in her art is not only very detailed, but it also transcends time. In some of her works, if one looks closely, the visions of spirits create an inspiring visual impact. K.C. has a gift for capturing the shimmering iridescence of the spirit world. In her reverent detail, one can almost hear the howl of wolves and the trampling of running horses on dusty trails as their stories depicted on the canvases come to life in the mind's eye.
Through commissioned work, K.C. has had the opportunity to paint special subjects. A crowd pleaser is "Winnie, the Cat," for Betty Hale. Eeyore, the lop-eared horse, has been a great success. "A Day in the Life of Andrew," a commissioned piece for the 2007 Healing Reins fund-raising benefit was recently sold at the benefit auction, "Diamonds and Dust," then the painting was donated to Andrew's family by a group of winning bidders as a memento of Andrew's experience with the special horses and volunteers at Healing Reins in Bend, Oregon. K.C.'s experience with this project inspired her while illustrating the 'Andy and Spirit' series of children's picture books and she plans to donate a part of her profits from the sale of these books to Healing Reins.
K.C.'s artwork has won many awards during her long career. Her rainbow collection of prize ribbons from all over the Northwest is as colorful as her work. Recently, K.C. has won awards from the 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 Western Art Roundup at Winnemucca, Nevada. She has won prizes in several categories, as well as the prestigious Snaffle Bit Award for her authentic Western Art, the Pioneer Award for the depiction of life on the High Desert, and the Indian Heritage Award for her piece titled, "Hope of the White Buffalo."
More of K.C.'s work can be seen at kcsniderart.com.
