About the Artist

“Art is my oxygen- and my preferred form of therapy.   The act of interpreting and recreating what I see and feel in the moment is totally compelling, as is the challenge presented in rendering a three dimensional space onto a flat surface.  Whether painting in plein air or in the studio, I’m attempting to capture the moment’s light, atmosphere and emotion.  I want to engage the viewer in a dialog- to inhabit the scene, the time of day, the season; to confront the personality within the portrait.”

Karen is originally from Baltimore, Maryland, and currently lives in Western Howard County, Maryland.  Art has always played a significant role in her life.  During her practice in psychiatric nursing, she explored the use of art therapy as an adjunctive treatment method, participating in workshops based on the work of Dr. Gregg M. Furth and Elisabeth Kubler-Ross.   Once retired, she was free to immerse herself in painting full-time.  She was introduced to plein air painting during an intensive workshop in Provence in 2009, an experience which continues to inform her work.  She has since found inspiration in the tradition of contemporary impressionism. Whenever possible, she attends classes and workshops to enhance her informal education.

Karen paints land, sea and cityscapes, and people she has met along the way wherever her travels take her.  

She participates in juried and plein air events and exhibits in galleries throughout Maryland.   She is an Associate Member of Gallery 322 and a past Associate Member of TAG/The Artists Gallery, both in Frederick, MD.

Her art is in private collections along the East Coast and California.