Artist’s Statement

            “…Mr. Webster writes that ‘black is the absence of light and the absorption of all color’.   To me that means, my black paper is looking for light and color to come alive; when I start a painting, I fulfill that quest.  But not all the way, there is so much the black can add that I let it!  The richness of the black of the paper makes its own case for being left to itself.  This is “overlaying the positive on the negative”.  Of course, the key is in knowing what to omit and what to add; that is when my art comes to be and it is my unique creation”

                                      Bio

Karen was eight years old when she decided to “be a famous artist someday”.  She worked hard at it, drawing everyday, taking every art class that came her way and gleaning knowledge from every artist she encountered.  She pursued her dream through Art Schools in Sweden, Community Colleges and a California University.  Even after marriage she managed to stay an artist working in textiles on her own loom and traveling to Guatemala where she worked with the native weavers always wanting her creations to be authentic and the best she could produce.  Karen credits her textile years for giving her the great depth and variation of colors apparent in her pastel works of today.  She slowed the pursuit of her personal dreams to raise two creative and artistic young men then rejoined her quest like never before.  And, somewhere during this time, Karen decided that relocation to the Southwest was to play a part in becoming that “famous artist”.  Oh, how right she was!

In August 2001 her father passed away.  Then came 9/11 and everyone’s world turned upside down.  But life’s negatives are never too far away from the positives.  Seeking solace and peace from back-to-back tragedies, Karen headed for Sedona.  There, among the red rocks, she met Dwight, her husband-to-be.   Very soon, Karen and Dwight decided there was no time like the present to reach for the dream of that eight year old and so she and her new husband left behind all that was known and safe for the wilds of New Mexico.  Within three months of that, she designed her own studio and broke ground for its building!  There was no turning back now; the momentum was growing. 

Moving to New Mexico proved to be a major stepping stone in Karen’s quest.  She found herself in a “new” world of old living ways surrounded by ranches, cowboys, cowgirls, cattle, cactus, sagebrush, adobe and wide open spaces!   And, of course, there were horses, a subject Karen had not even thought of trying in California.  Her first try at equine was near perfect.  Horse people of all kinds loved her equine paintings and clamored for more!  Then something really amazing happened, Karen went to her first rodeo.  She began painting the cowboys and cowgirls, the broncs, the bulls, the sheep, the ropers, the riders, the competition and living on the edge for eight seconds.  Today Karen’s wonderfully unique and action packed rodeo works combined with her southwest architecture and ranch works are fast gaining momentum as some of the best representational western art that can be acquired.   So much so that recently Karen was invited into membership with the Western Artists of America (WAA) of which there are only 24 active members.  Karen will tell you that she has much to learn about the west and its inhabitants.  And, as she grows with the west so grows her art; as she says, “my work gets better with every stroke and with every lesson I learn about living in the West.  I really, really love what I do and who I am.  That makes me famous!”  Almost as famous as her ancestor cousin, Jesse James! 

Resume

Education

                Charter/Exchange Student, Konstskolan Art School, Sweden

                BFA, San Francisco State University, CA

                AA Architectural Design, San Mateo CC, CA

Shows & Exhibitions

                National Exhibition of the Pastel Society of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 2003-2007

                Masterworks of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 2004 & 2006-2007

                The Phippen Museum of Western Art Invitational Show and Sale, Prescott, AZ 2005-2010

                Peppertree Art Show and Sale, Invitational & Finale, Santa Ynez, CA, 2006-2008

                Cattlemen’s Association Art Show and Sale, Paso Robles, CA 2007-2008, 2010

                Roundup Show and Sale, Invitational, Museum of Western Art, Kerrville, TX 2007-2010

                Greeley Stampede Western Art Show, Invitational, Greeley, CO 2007-2010

                Collectors’ Classic Art Show, Museum of Western Art, Kerrville, TX 2007-2008

                Mountain Oyster Club’s Contemporary Western Art Show, Tucson, AZ 2007-2009

                Phippen Museum Exhibit, Wild Horses! Phippen Museum, Prescott, AZ 2008

                Night of Artists Art Sale & Gala, Briscoe Museum Foundation, San Antonio, TX 2009

                Western Artists of America Small Works Show, J. Willott Gallery, Palm Desert, CA 2009

                Empire 100 Western Art Show & Sale, Empire Ranch Foundation, Tucson, AZ 2009
                Governor's Art Show, NebraskaLand Days, North Platte, NE 2009-2010

                Western Artists of America Museum Show, Museum of Western Art, Kerrville, TX 2009
                Western Spirit Art Show & Sale, Old West Museum, Cheyenne, WY 2010
                Cheyenne Frontier Days Western Art Show, Old West Museum, Cheyenne, WY 2010

Awards & Achievements

                Peoples’ Choice Award—National Exhibition of the Pastel Society of NM, 2004

                Honorable Mention—The Pastel Journal Magazine, Pastel Top 100 2004

                Third Place Award—Miniature Arts Bardean 2005

                Honorable Mention—NM State Fair Fine Arts 2005

                Sponsors’ Award—National Exhibition of the Pastel Society of NM, 2005

                Peoples’ Choice Award—Homestead Western Art Show & Sale, 2006

Signature Member—Awarded level of skill by the Pastel Society of New Mexico, 2006

                Wingspread Publications Award—National Exhibition of the PSNM, 2006

                Award of Merit-Drawing (First Place)—Southwest Arts Festival, 2007

                Third Place Award, Pastels—The Phippen Museum Western Art Show, 2007

Gold Award Dry Medium (First Place)—Western Artists of America Museum Show, 2009

Publications

            Pastel Journal Magazine, Top 100 Pastels for 2004, February 2005

            Western Horseman Magazine, Artist Profile, May 2005

                Pastel Journal, Pastel Pointers, August 2006

                Horses in Art Magazine, Feature Article, Spring 2007

                Wildlife Art Magazine, Feature Article, May/June 2007

                Western Art Collector, Western Artists of America Feature, August 2009

Western Art Collector, Horizon Fine Art Gallery Feature, September 2009

Professional Affiliations

                Western Artists of America—WAA

                Signature Member—Pastel Society of New Mexico
                American Society of Bovine Artists--ASBA