Kat Sowa came to Caneel Bay Resort in January 2002 as the Resident Artist after a long a varied career as an artist on St. John and in the United States. She was the founder and co-owner of the Bajo el Sol Gallery in Mongoose Junction for 10 years. St. John has been her home for the past 18 years and has been highly recognized and acclaimed for her watercolor and oil Land and Seascape paintings as well as her Portrait work and "genre" painting. Kat graduated from The University of Michigan in 1983 with a Bachelor of Fine Art & a Secondary Education Degree and has been learning and teaching art ever since. She has taught Primary through College level drawing, painting, design, pottery and photography. While in Ann Arbor, Michigan Kat owned East/West Design Studio and was an established publications illustrator and fashion photographer. The sun beckoned and she moved to St. John in 1986.
Kat is delighted to be “artist in residence” at Caneel Bay Resort where she has been re-inspired to paint and offered the opportunity to teach.

Résumé
Education
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
B.F.A. Magna Cum Laude 1980-1983
Drawing, Painting, Photography, Printmaking & Sculpture, Secondary Education Degree

Oakland Community College, Farmington, MI Associates, Liberal Arts 1975-1980 –Design, Drawing, Painting, Photography & Education, Intensive Art Study Programs

In addition to formal university education, Kat has studied with notable artists Paul Soldner, Robert Piepenburg, Ted Striewksi, Paul Miriano, David Millard, Arne Westerman, and Skip Lawrence, among others.

Notable Arts Experience
2002- Present Resident Artist of Rosewood Resort– Caneel Bay, St. John, USVI
1998 - 2001 St. John Guidebook Illustrator– Inclusive of maps and illustrations
for all Great Dane Publications
1998 - 2001 Designed & Built home on St. John, “Aerie” which has been featured in Islands Magazine, Caribbean Travel & Life and Brides Magazine, and in the Guide to The US Virgin Islands. www.stjohnaerie.com
1995 - 2000 Caribbean Color Annual Juried Fine Arts Show–Received top awards annually
1991 - 2001 Founder & Owner of Bajo el Sol Gallery–Mongoose Junction, St. John, U.S.V.I.
1985 - 1989 Illustrator for Publication– Michigan Bar Journal, & Multiple Trade Journals
1981 Michigan Council for the Arts– Grant Award Selected as an outstanding Michigan artist.

Teaching
1991 - 2004 Private Lessons, Watercolor & Oil
1999 - 2000 Enrichment Program, Adults & Children Painting & Drawing
1986 - 1987 Ann Arbor Potters Guild, Adult Ceramics & Pottery
1984 - 1986 Oakland Community College, Pottery & Sculpture
1982 - 1984 Ann Arbor Parks & Rec. Dept., Children's Art Program
1982 Ann Arbor Potters Guild, Raku Workshop
1982 Slauson Secondary School, Art
1981 Oakland University, Pottery Demonstrations
1980 Muir Secondary School, Summer Arts Program
1975 - 1977 Private Art lessons