Oils
Karen was 3 years old when her love of art began to develop. She began trying to draw her favorite plastic horses, and immediately aspired to bring art to those around her and help others see the beauty in the world that surrounds us. At 9 years old when her parents saw her artistic talent and love of drawing horses, they enrolled her in a home school “Art Institute” that involved several years of study to graduate.
As she continued to see the beauty in the world around her, she also desired to help others in other ways as she grew up. After completing 3+ years in a nursing program and working in hospitals, her desire still brought her back to the beauty outdoors, where she went on to complete a Fine Arts Degree. When she later realized that art was a difficult way to make a living, she proceeded to get a psychology & computer science degrees, always hoping to return to art again.
Karen then began working in a career as a programmer & systems analyst, becoming the President of the Association of Woman In Computing. She would occasionally work as a K-12 teacher after obtaining education degrees and endorsements. Even with all her accomplishments her biggest pride was eventually becoming a mother of 3 beautiful children. Karen became a single mother and met her soul mate and current husband where they became owners of a RV, Tent and Cabin Resort for 13 years. There she created a 60’ x 4’ intricate tile mural at their business, which showed all the 30 activities to do in area and several 14’ x 9’ intricate tile murals locally.
Throughout Karen’s life her curiosity of the beauty around her compelled her to travel 53 countries, visiting all the landscapes, museums, and churches she could find. After 40 years of working long hours, she was able to step into ‘retirement heaven’; doing what she always yearned for: Art. She then began to get back into oil & acrylic painting, made silversmith jewelry, wire wraps, wood sculptures, tile murals, & self-published a book called ‘Silent Think Time’. Karen and her husband then spent the next 20 years traveling to various arts & craft shows in AZ,WA, MT, ID & ND each year, sharing their unique art creations with others that loved art. She also takes pride in having some of her items in a few art galleries. In her spare time she enjoys hiking, gardening, traveling & taking art classes at Phoenix’s Scottsdale Art Institute, and spending time with her children and 6 grandchildren. Karen hopes to share her art with others and bring color and light to the world. She hopes that her unique paintings and creations bring you as much joy as it brings her to make. No matter your age, you too can find your inspiration, and accomplish your dreams.
Karen tries to capture that FEELING at the moment of time, the LIGHTING, the many COLORS, and the story it tells. Karen uses vibrant acrylic under base before her oils, complementary colors side-by-side, while always conquering the depth. Her philosophy is “CRAWL INSIDE YOUR PAINTING LIKE YOU ARE REALLY THERE AND PAINT FROM YOUR HEART!” Her Oil Acrylic paintings show her focus on vivid, whimsical, delightful Impressionism style.