Biography

Kim Ragsdale's work is an expression of her experiences in country living. She conceptualizes an era of working cowboys and the animals and action that surround them. Her subjects are captured in their element, performing daily tasks. All her ultra-realistic black and white drawings are done using high quality graphite in 19 differentiated degrees from especially soft to extra hard.

Growing up in Montana, Kim started to draw when she was very young, finding that emerging dogs and horses looked like the photos she found in magazines. In high school, Kim was taken under the wing of an excellent art teacher, who happened to be a portrait artist. Faces fascinated her, particularly ones that had a weathered look and character lines. She explains, " I learned to draw what I see, not what I know is there."

Between jobs as a retail clothing supervisor and a regional mall marketing director, commission portraits have been Kim's extra income most of thirty years. In 2003, she entered her first competition and won. She has since joined Women Artists of the West (WAOW) and has been accepted as an associate member in the prestigious Women Academy of Women Artists (AAWA). Kim has won numerous awards in critique competitions and fine art shows. She is enjoying teaching classes in her pencil techniques and specializes in workshops on marketing art. Kim lives in southern Oregon with her husband and two youngest children

AWARDS

2006

• "Painting of the Year", Southern Oregon Society of Artists Annual Banquet, Medford, OR for "Beyond the Wire", November 12, 2006
• Poster Artist for 2006 St. Paul Rodeo. 1st black and white art work to win the honor.
• "People's Choice", Ellensburg National Art Show and Sale, Ellensburg, WA for "Eye to the Soul", May 20, 2006.  Chosen by the general public from 113 artworks.
• "Best in Show" in graphite, pen and ink and pastel, Ellensburg National Art Show and Auction, Ellensburg, WA for "Eye to the Soul", May 19, 2006. Chosen by all 75 artists in attendance.
• 1st Place, Southern Oregon Society of Artists Quarterly Critique, Medford, OR, for "Thank You", January 25, 2006.  Judge - Sue Bennett

2005

• Painting of the Year, Southern Oregon Society of Artists Annual Banquet, Medford, OR for "Ready," November 12, 2005. Judge - Chris Messer, instructor at California Academy of Art in San Francisco.
• 1st Place tie, Southern Oregon Society of Artists Quarterly Critique, Medford, OR for "Ready" and "Pieces of Summer," October 26, 2005. Judge - Linda Curtis
• 1st Place, St. Paul, OR 70th Annual Wild West Art Show Rodeo Poster Competition for 2006 Rodeo poster with "Thank You"
• 1st Place, Upper Rogue Artists Annual Critique, Medford, OR, for "Bonding," graphite original category, and 1st Place for "Commission for Caring," graphite professional category, April 1, 2005. Judges - Karen Cain Smith and Craig Cox
• 1st Place,. Southern Oregon Society of Artists, Medford, OR for "Strummin'," January 26, 2005. Judge - Charlene Brasset

2004

• 1st Place, Southern Oregon Society of Artists, Medford, OR for "Stoney," July 29, 2004. Judge- Eshwan.
• Best in Show-Graphite , St. Paul, OR, 69th Annual Wild West Art Show for "Gene" July 4th, 2004
• 1st Place, Southern Oregon Society of Artists, Medford, OR for "Gene," April 28, 2004. Judge- Richard McKinley
• 1st Place, Upper Rogue Artists Annual Critique, Medford, OR for "Gene" and 2nd Place for "Determined" in Professional Category, April 2, 2004. Judge- Carl Seybolt
• 1st Place, Southern Oregon Society of Artists, Medford, OR for "Determined," January 28, 2004. Judge - Olin Jones

2003

• 1st Place and Reserve Champion, Jackson County Fair 2003, Central Point, OR, for "Eight Point Buck" and 1st Place for "Ruben"

AFFILIATIONS

• Associate member of American Academy of Women Artists (AAWA)
• Associate member of national group "Women Artists of the West" (WAOW)
• Southern Oregon Society of Artists ( SOSA)
• Upper Rogue Artists - Publicity Director

REVIEWS and ARTICLES

• John Gervais, "St. Paul Rodeo features first black and white poster", Woodburn Independent, Newberg Graphic, St. Paul Rodeo Special Section, Woodburn, OR. June 29, 2006
• Western Horseman Magazine,  "Kim Ragsdale", June 2006 online
• John Gervais, "Image Maker", Woodburn Independent, Woodburn, OR, May 27, 2006
• Ralph McKechnie, "Roxy Ann Winery event to feature two UR artists", Upper Rogue Independent, Eagle Point, OR, May 2, 2006
• Nancy Leonard, "Two Shady Cove artists to display art at Cow Palace", Upper Rogue Independent, April 4, 2006
• Sandy Cathcart, "Capturing the Moment", Horses in Art Magazine Spring 2006
• Laurie Heuston, "A New Exhibit Celebrates our Four-legged Friends", Medford Mail Tribune Tempo. Medford, OR, February 10, 2006
• Ralph MeKechnie, "Local Artists in Dog and Pony Show", Upper Rogue Independent, Eagle Point, OR, February 7, 2006
• Craig Rogers, "Artist's Nook", American Border Collie Magazine, August 2005
• Ralph McKechnie, "Kim Ragsdale beat the Odds at the St. Paul Rodeo with her Art, not a Bronc," Upper Rogue Independent, Eagle Point, OR, July 2005
• Laurie Hueston, "Lifelike Qualities," Medford Mail Tribune, Medford, OR, January 2005
• Dorene Stamper, "Rogue Valley Artist Kim Ragsdale known for her Lifelike Drawings," MedfordNews.com. Medford, OR, November 2004
• Ralph McKechnie, "Ragsdale art earns 'Best in Show,' " Upper Rogue Independent, Eagle Point, OR, July 2004
• Shellene Clendenin, "Another rodeo in the bag," Newburg Graphic, Newberg, OR, July 2004
• Ralph McKechnie, "Artist rediscovering her talent," Upper Rogue Independent, Eagle Point, OR, April 2004

TEACHING AND SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

• Cascade Christian High School (ACSI Accreditated)
• Jackson County Home Educators
• Jackson County School District 9
• Irelock Imaging
• Upper Rogue Artists
• Three Rivers School District