Karen grew up along the gulf coast in Florida and Charleston SC.
She currently lives with her husband Jim in Charlottesville VA.
A deep desire to create art began at a young age. Karen’s
parents encouraged her artistic growth with art lessons and visits
to art museums. She was educated in business and had a successful
career as an accountant. Karen’s true passion was to create
art. She left behind her business career to devote all her time
to her first love, art. She has never regretted making that decision.
Karen is always learning, studying, practicing patience and keeping
her commitment to art to be exciting and challenging. She observes
and translates her subjects with impression, imagination and expression
using the artist’s tools of color and truth. Karen strives
to communicate to the viewer the feel of a place……..warmth
of the day the smell of the grass, the trees, the ocean spray…..how
the light and atmosphere changes colors. She hopes that her paintings
take you to the places of their inspiration.
Education:
1998 – 2002 Four years academic studies specifically:
Design, Theory, Composition, Drawing, Color theory,
Art History, Abstract all media, Painting all media to advanced
classes
1998 to Present
Studies in design and composition
McGuffey Art Center:
Barbara McCullem
Rick Weaver: Portrait
Marion Reynolds: Oil painting, composition, seeing color
Beverly Street Studio School
Ron Boehmer: Plein Air Landscape
Studied With:
Kevin Macpherson; Kevin Sealy; C W Mundy; Richard Schmid; Ken Austor
Honors and Awards
2008 Art on the Green; Lexington, Virginia, Honor of Distinction
Category: Oil Landscape: Judged Robert Stuart
2008 Bath County Art Show; Hot Springs, Virginia, Award Choice Category
Oil
2007 Shenandoah Valley Art Center Juried Members Show; Waynesboro,
Virginia; Second Place: Oil
2007 Bath County Art Show; Hot Springs, Virginia, Judges Choice
Award; Category Oil
2008 Nelson Gallery Plein Air Paint Lexington
Professional Affiliations:
Oil Painters of America
MAPAPA Mid-Atlantic Plein Air Painters Association
Beverly Street Studio School
Artist member CoArt Gallery, Staunton Virginia
BozArt Gallery, Charlottesville, Virginia
Shenandoah Valley Arts Center
Juried shows:
2008 Nelson Gallery’s Annual Juried Show; Lexington, Virginia
2008 Bath County Art Show; Hot Springs, Virginia, Award Choice Category
Oil
2008 VMRC’s Fifth Annual Juried Art Exhibition; Harrisonburg,
Virginia
2008 Art at the Mill, Juried Gallery Show, Burwell-Morgan Mill, Virginia
2008 Virginia House of Delegates: Richmond, Virginia
2008 International Miniature Art Show; Nags Head, North Carolina
2008 Art on the Green; Lexington, Virginia, Honor of Distinction Category:
Oil Landscape: Judged by Robert Stuart
2007 Shenandoah Valley Art Center Juried Members Show; Waynesboro,
Virginia; Second Place: Oil
2007 Bath County Art Show; Hot Springs, Virginia
2007 Shenandoah Valley Art Center; Waynesboro, Virginia
2007 Beverly Street Studio School, Staunton, Virginia
2002-2006 Art at the Mill, Gallery Show; Burwell-Morgan Mill, Virginia
2002-2004 International Miniature Art Show; Nags Head, North Carolina
2003 Aldie Mill, Gallery Show; Aldie, Virginia
2003 Virginia House of Delegates; Richmond, Virginia
2001, 2002 Paintings from the Piedmont, McGuffy Art Center; Charlottesville,
Virginia
Solo shows:
2008 CoArt Gallery, Staunton, Virginia
2002 Westminster Canterbury; Charlottesville, Virginia
Gallery Shows:
2007 Beverly Street Gallery; Staunton, Virginia
2007 CoArt Gallery; Staunton, Virginia
2005 Sage Moon Gallery, Charlottesville, Virginia
2003 Beverly Street Gallery; Staunton, Virginia
2003 Second Street Gallery; Charlottesville, Virginia
2002 McGuffy Art Center; Charlottesville, Virginia
