Although Karen has been painting for many years, she only began exhibiting her
work in the Fall of 2003. As a self-taught artist she says, "I just learned everything the hard way."
During this brief period, Karen has gained recognition for her work with awards at numerous
juried competitions. Two of her paintings, "Envy" and "Lady in Red", were exhibited at the Montgomery
Museum of Fine Arts in the Spring of 2005, with "Steppin' Out II" and "Pick & Choose" on exhibition
in 2007. One of her watercolor pieces, "The Firebird", was published in the Montgomery and River Region Sketchbook. Her watercolor,
"Steppin' Out II", was exhibited at the Energen Art 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 issue of Art Business News in an article titled, "Selling Sensuality", a portion of which you may read
on this website. She received the Award of Excellence at the 2008 Alabama Wildlife Federation Art Competition for her
first wildlife piece, "Egret in the Marsh." With her attention on detail and design, she has gathered fans
and collectors as far away as Switzerland.
"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 piece must look real. If I can't believe in what 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."
"As I
approach the future, I do so with a great sense of urgency. I realize there is so much more to learn and explore in
the world of art, and I plan to experience as much as possible. True to form, I will do so with much gusto and so look
forward to the journey."
DO NOT
VISIT THE FIGURATIVE WORKS GALLERIES IF YOU ARE UNDERAGE OR OFFENDED BY MILD NUDITY.
