Katrina Case did her first painting when she was 7 years old on her grandparents’ dairy farm in northern Wisconsin. Members of her family were all doctors, pharmacists, and nurses and she was always encouraged to choose something practical for her career, something guaranteed to provide an income. But even at a young age she was stubborn.

She graduated Cum Laude from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan, in 2005 with a Bachelors of Fine Arts, emphasis in painting. She then worked mainly as a residential mural artist until things started to get tough and she finally decided she had better get what many called a “real” job. She went back to school and earned an Associates of Applied Science degree in radiography. She began working as a teacher at the local community college, teaching anatomy and physiology. She also worked part time at an orthopedic clinic.

Case often used her art skills in the classroom, including drawing anatomy study guides for her students. Art was her joy even as she settled down to do what “normal” people do. She didn’t for one moment though give up on her dream of being a professional artist.

Her dedication and determination paid off. Case is now back to painting full time. She was a guest artist at BDAC in Bismarck in 2020 and had a two-month residency at Prairie Village Museum in Rugby, ND in 2019. She was an artist at ArtPrize 2014 in Grand Rapids, and the Red Flannel Art Festival 2015 in Cedar Springs, Michigan, as well as several juried shows across the country. One of her greatest awards was at an international juried competition in Spain. She was not only in the final top ten out of hundreds of artists, but she was also the only finalist from the United States.

Case has done paintings for organizations across the country, including Bismarck Veterans Memorial Library, Phi Theta Kappa Headquarters, the Make a Wish Foundation, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Mid-Michigan Community College Foundation, and the Coalition to Stop Violence against Native Woman, among others. She has also donated paintings to Phi Theta Kappa chapters around the country to help them raise funds. She also donates one painting every year to the Michigan Region to help fund a scholarship started during her time as a regional officer. She considers it her way to pay it forward, sharing her given gift to help others.

She came to North Dakota over 7 years ago now, where her main passion is painting the landscapes of the Great Plains. She is working with author Clay Jenkinson in the creation of several books about North Dakota including the cover artwork for his most recent book, The Language of the Cottonwoods. As well as providing illustrations for several of his publications. She is also working on writing her own book, 10 Minute Journey, a book about a special journey through an artistic experience. She is a guest artist at Dakota Fine Art in Fargo, North Dakota, and a permanent artist in residence at The Capital Gallery in Bismarck. Case draws inspiration from the magnificent sunrises and sunsets on the open plains. She considers North Dakota her home, one she never plans on leaving.