Kathleen Marie Garness is passionate about native orchid conservation. Their close association to their mycorrhizal fungal associates has put them at great risk due to development, hydrology issues and climate change. She has been illustrating orchids for many years and has been an active leader with local conservation organizations since 2001. Her work is primarily transparent watercolor on hot-press Arches 100% rag paper, though she has been known to work in pen and ink, colored pencil and pastel as well. She is a past president of the Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Arts, Chicago, IL and is active in several local and national artists' organizations. Her time is unequally divided between painting, teaching, learning webpage construction from her almost-adult son and doing natural resource management in the service of endangered species.

Contact Information:
Kathleen Marie Garness
Forest Park IL
PH: 708.366.7584
E-mail: kmgfinearts@comcast.net