Art+Nature

I am a natural science illustration artist combining my love of fiber arts, painting, and drawing to design modern signature quilted art. Inspired by my Dutch horticulture heritage and historic natural science art, I love exploring the creatures, plants, and landscapes in my native Great Lakes region with the familiarity and comfort of quilting techniques.  

Researching the plant, animal, and/or insect is key to capturing the exact representation. From my drawings and paintings, I create a pattern of my subject taking into account colored fabrics and thread. My stitching and quilting techniques are key mark-making steps, like drawing or painting, to give my pieces depth and texture.    

A graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design Natural Science Illustration Program, I also teach nature journaling and art workshops. 

I work alongside her husband Richard Hawkins, a former ceramic artist, and our cat Maxie, in our Milwaukee, Wisconsin studio. My son Jason DeVries and son-in-law Jonas Nahm live in San Francisco, California.

Kathy DeVries, Artist and Owner

  • Natural science illustration fiber artist

  • Teaching nature journaling and art workshops

  • 35 years marketing and communications executive

Selected Exhibits, Shows and Bibliography

Wausau Festival of the Arts, 2024, Honorable Mention Fine Artist, Wausau Festival of the Arts, Wausau, WI

Great Wisconsin Quilt Juried Show, 2024,  Alliant Energy Center, Madison, WI

Go Figure! Juried Show, 2024, Plymouth Art Center, Plymouth, WI  Wisconsin Visual Artists Southeast Chapter

GNSI Annual Juried Members’ Exhibit, 2023,  International Virtual,  Guild of Natural Science Illustrators

Great Wisconsin Quilt Juried Show, 2023,  Alliant Energy Center, Madison, WI

Member Biennial Exhibition, 2023, Center for the Visual Arts, Wauwau, WI,  Wisconsin Craft 

Fine Art of Fiber Exhibition, 2022, Chicago Botanical Gardens, Highland Park, IL, Northshore Needle Arts Guild 

QuiltCon Community Quilt, 2022, Annual Exhibition, Phoenix, AZ, Modern Quilt Guild 

Quarantine Quilt Exhibition, 2021, Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber Arts, Cedarburg WI 

The Quarantine Quilt, “Bird Watching” feature, Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber Arts

Member Quarantine Show, 2021, Alverno College, Milwaukee, WI Wisconsin Craft 

Member Biennial Exhibition, 2020, Plymouth Art Center, Plymouth, WI,  Wisconsin Craft 

Modern Quilts in the Second City: Ten Years of the Chicago Modern Quilt Guild, 2019

Organizations

Wisconsin Craft Board of Directors, Member

Guild of Natural Science Illustrators, 2025 Annual Conference Program Planning Committee Lead, Member

Wisconsin Visual Artists Member

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