About Katie and A Fine Finish
Katie Fitzgerald has pursued interests in the arts her entire life, including writing her first rather bad novel at the precocious age of 13. Katie pursued creating interesting finishes in her own home "the hard way" for a very long time until she discovered there was a decorative arts industry. She proclaimed: "That's what I want to do!" and gave up a stodgy Silicon Valley job to pursue painting, which culminated in the founding of A Fine Finish in 2007.
Having been a Girl Scout from Brownies on, a believer in the "Win-Win" style of business, and more recently as a mom, Katie believes in leaving someplace better than she found it. This of course means enhancing an environment with decorative art that her clients will enjoy for years to come. This philosophy also means respecting her clients.
Katie will call you back. She will show up on time, or proactively tell you otherwise. She will clean up after herself and leave your space in a cleanly manner. She wouldn't do anything in your space that she wouldn't do in her own home. And with a Masters Certificate in Project Management, Katie has the skills to back-up her business and project ideals.
Training and education are also an important part of the business. Katie recently completed the first professionally-available series of classes to become a Preferred Applicator for Modern Masters' new Platinum and Shizen series of green paints and plasters.
Katie is mentored by muralist and president of the International Decorative Artisans League (IDAL), Amy Ketteran. She has recently studied with internationally renowned decorative artists Pierre Finkelstein, Jean-Luc Sable, and Tania Seabock. She has also studied extensively with award-winning artist and instructor Shauna Oeberst Gallagher of Artistic Living Studio, Tina Martinez of Furniture Art Studio, and Sheri Hoegar The Mad Stencilist.
Katie lives and works in Felton, California in the Santa Cruz mountains with her husband Duff, daughter Claire, son Duncan, the aged-and-entitled Cyrano the cat, and Rocket the hamster.
Additional Training and Background
- Training in Interior Design at the University of California at Santa Cruz
- Masters Certificate in Project Management from George Washington University
- Bachelor of Arts from the University of California at Irvine
- Previous small business owner
- Twenty years as a professional writer
