After raising two children, a boy and a girl, and sending them on their trip
through life, I started to try to find the 
Karen I knew before the job of
motherhood had consumed me. I loved being a mother, but now it was my time. I
had been an antiques dealer for 25 years and was tired of running a shop and
dealing with the public. I needed a change. My children challenged me to go back
to school and get a degree.
I had quit college when I was young because I didn't know what I wanted to do in life and didn't want to spend money I didn't have. Back then (1964 in rural New York State), there were four things a girl could do after high school. She could be a nurse, a secretary, a teacher or get married. I tried the college route, but went aimlessly into it. Now, at the age of 46, I was about to get into the experience of my life. At that age, I started college, going fulltime days like a young kid, and graduated with honors at the age of 50 with two degrees, one in Humanities and Social Sciences and the other a Bachelor of Fine Art in Studio Arts.
I have always been interested in art, the local theater and costuming. I am also an avid sewer, knitter and did most of the work on my antiques. I learned how to do most anything using my hands, from caning chairs to upholstering furniture. But my love has always been painting, sculture and 3D projects. I entered many juried shows with much reluctance, being embarrased with my interpretation of reality paintings only to find out that my style of painting had a name for it. I found out that I am a folk and naive painter. When professors saw what I did, they did not try to make me change the way I did things. Being able to express myself and tell a little story with paint is very fulfilling to me. I consider my art to be light-hearted, colorful, with a narrative humor. I get pleasure from having other people want to look at this expression of communication through paint. My childlike manner of painting has always been compared to Mattise's style.
I put paint directly on the cavas with just an idea in my head and maybe a preliminary sketch on paper. I use all manners of materials, liking oils the best because of the fluidness and wonderful way of mixing chemically to surprise me with its outcome of different shades.
I have a series of paintings that I call "Dot-to-Dot Paintings." These are primitive paintings indicative of indigenous people in Australia. They are usually colorful with maps being the usual inspiration for these paintings. Having traveled to Europe a few times, I have been influenced by the colorful innocense and look of Ireland and other European countries. Caribbean travels have given me a chance to experience life in hot climates with hot colors and pastels, and observe the different degrees in the way of living, from very rich to very poor.
As an artist, I am always trying to get what is inside of me out on canvas. At 58 years of age, I have experienced a lot in life. Sometimes I feel a need to surround myself in art to get me going. That is when I will paint for months. Other times, I will have dry spells for months. I also have a need for competition. If I can paint surrounded by other people, I feel good. Isolation is another way I can have good paint days. I try to express a flow of thought through imagery from the unconscious to the canvas. If people enjoy this trip with me through my art, I am pleased.
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12/06/2006