When I was an art student I would imagine myself painting with wild abandon – slinging paint onto the canvas, splatters going everywhere; in short, being totally in the moment, transfixed by the process of creating art. What I didn’t understand at the time was how much I was going to have to learn about the process of painting before I could start slinging that paint in a meaningful way.
My painting style has transitioned over time from traditional to contemporary. The traditional work was all about following the rules of painting and getting the technical aspects right. There came a point when I no longer felt challenged. I was at a point where the “rules” of painting were second nature, so I decided to just relax and enjoy the act of painting.
   The process is the exciting part. I have no detailed plan because the challenge is making decisions in the moment. I add paint in some areas and remove it in other areas. Other times I lay in heavy layers of paint without completely blending, so the paint colors mingle together. Since I allow layers of the painting to show, it provides a peek at the creative process. Painting isn’t always orderly and can also get pretty messy.  My paintings are original and individual, intentionally imperfect, and created with that goal.
   The meaning of my art lies more in the process of creation and how that influences the end result, rather than using the completed painting as a vehicle for expressing an idea or philosophy. Some might say it is a metaphor for life’s journey, in the sense that our lives are created through the process of experience along the way; we are all original and individual.
    Cathy McIntire has over 30 years of professional experience in the arts. She began her career as a graphic artist and spent several years as manager for an Atlanta graphic arts studio. In 1993 she made the commitment to concentrate all her efforts on painting. Her efforts have earned her Signature status in two professional painting societies, inclusion in regional and national juried exhibitions, and participation in numerous gallery exhibits that include two solo shows. In 2003 she was named VSA arts of Georgia Artist of the Year. A lifelong resident of Georgia, McIntire has lived in Jasper County since 1999.

JURIED EXHIBITIONS (Selected)
- Georgia In Bloom Spring Exhibition, Madison, GA, 2010, 2008
- Oconee Artists Exhibition, Milledgeville, GA, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2002, 2001
- Georgia National Fair Fine Arts Exhibition, 2004
- Georgia Watercolor Society National Exhibition, 2003, 2000
- Southern Watercolor Society National Exhibition, 2002, 2001, 1997
- Georgia Watercolor Society Members Exhibition, 2001, 1997, 1995
- Art & Soul Festival, International Visual Arts Exhibition, Los Angeles, CA, 1999
- Arts and Design Society of Fort Walton Beach Annual Exhibition, 1998
- Kennesaw Fine Arts Society Annual Art Lovers Show, 1996, 1995
- Tallahassee Watercolor Society 10th Annual Tri-State Exhibition, 1995
- Madison-Morgan 17th Annual Regional Show, Madison, GA, 1995

GALLERY AFFILIATIONS AND EXHIBITIONS (Selected)
- Mason Murer Fine Art, Atlanta, GA, 2010
- Ann Jacob Fine Art, Highlands, NC, 2010
- Aurum Jewelry and Art, Lake Oconee, GA, 2009
- Art Gallery La Place, Washington, GA, 2009
- Hampton Fine Art Gallery, Greensboro, GA, 2009, 2008, 2007
- Pantheon Gallery, Madison, GA, 2007
- Anne Irwin Fine Art, Atlanta, GA, 2006, 2005
- Erika Reade, Atlanta, GA, 2005
- Roswell Visual Arts Center, Roswell, GA, 2003
- John Marlor Arts Center, Milledgeville, GA, 2002
- Chateau Elan, Braselton, GA, 2000
- VSA arts of Georgia, Atlanta, GA, 1999
- Opus I Gallery, Atlanta, GA, 1997
- Quinlan Art Center, Gainesville, GA, 1997

HONORS / AWARDS
- 2010 "Best Artist" nomination, Lake Oconee Living Magazine
- 2009, Cover Art, Southern Distinction Magazine
- 2004, 1st Place Award, Georgia National Fair
- 2004, Best in Painting, Oconee Artists Exhibition XXI
- 2003, Artist of the Year, VSA arts of Georgia
- 2003, 2nd Place and People’s Choice Award, Southland Jubilee Exhibition
- 2002, 1st Place Award, Southland Jubilee Exhibition
- 2002, 2nd Place Award, Oconee Artists Exhibition XIX
- 2002, Signature status, Southern Watercolor Society
- 2001, Signature status, Georgia Watercolor Society
- 2000, Magnolia Award, Georgia Watercolor Society Members Exhibition

EDUCATION
- Wesleyan College, Macon, GA; BFA 1973
- Atlanta College of Art, Atlanta, GA; 1976-77