During this brief period, Karen has gained recognition for her work in both oil and watercolor with first, second and third place honors at numerous juried competitions.  Two of her figure paintings, Envy and Lady in Red,  were juried into the 2005 exhibition for a two-month exhibition at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Art, as well as Pick & Choose and Steppin' Out II in 2007.  One of her watercolor paintings, "The Firebird", was published in the Montgomery and the River Region Sketchbook.  She was selected by Art Business News to be on their panel of "live artists" at the 2005 Atlanta ArtExpo.   Her latest watercolor piece, "Steppin' Out II", was exhibited at the Energen Show in Birmingham, Al, as well as the 65th Annual National Watercolor Society Exhibition in May 2006, where she received the Alabama Artist Award.  Karen's work was featured in the July '06 issue of Art Business News in an article titled, "Selling Sensuality". And with her attention on detail and design, she has gathered fans and collectors as far away as Switzerland.

 

She has described her art as a passion, which is truly evident in her work.  "Painting defines me," she says.  "It's who I am, not just what I do."  Her paintings represent the truth as she sees it.  "For me, a picture must look real.  If I can't believe the picture I paint, I am not satisfied.  My paintings must be alive."  Karen's paintings are, indeed, alive; her canvases are infused with a real passion for the subject.

 

She states, "The longer I paint, the more I enjoy this wonderful blessing of creation.  Being given this incredible desire to be an artist, the rest has been just plain, hard work.  I wouldn't have it any other way."

 

Karen uses her talent of depicting light and shadow to bring her canvases to life.  "Light and shadow plays a major role in my work," comments the artist.   It allows the painting to take on a life of its own. The wonderful thing in painting is that one can never reach the peak of ones endeavor.  As the years go by, it may become more difficult to paint better than last year, but in the trying, one lives to the fullest as a painter.  I hope I am always evolving as an artist, always reaching for the next level," she says.  "We all need to continue growing into something beyond where we are now."  She is pleased to share the results with you.

 

Karen and her husband, Shon, live in a quiet country setting just north of Montgomery, Alabama, with more than enough room for large family gatherings.  Together they raised seven children and now have eleven grandchildren and one great grandbaby.