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her childhood growing up in a small village outside of Algon- quin Park certainly instilled for Karen an undeniable attraction to the untainted state of the en- vironment. Her voice fills with both excitement and intrigue as she recalls her recent travels to the Yukon and the North West Ter- ritories. “It’s called the Serengeti Blushing Beauties painted in 2006 ® of the North,” she says with a laugh, before raving about all the wildlife she and her husband, John, encountered. “Elk, Grizzly bears, they were all there!” While Karen’s art is greatly influenced by her child- hood living up north and her thrilling explorations, her artistic flare is something she describes as “instinctive.” For as long as Karen can remember, she has been com- pelled to express her talents through all sorts of creative outlets. As a child, she says she was always “cutting and pasting, colouring and writing,” and, as she grew into a young woman, she found a special solace in pottery, stained glass, wood working, cooking and gardening. More recently; however, Karen has also discovered a sur- prising sense of enjoyment in teaching. “At first it was somewhat difficult to verbalize what was always instinctive,” she explains, “but I’ve discov- ered that if a student has an inborn interest in art, then they have the patience to do whatever it takes to learn.” Over the course of the fall and winter, Karen offers three sessions (each session consists of six, three hour classes) of intermediate watercolour classes at Meta4 Gal- lery on Queen Street. Starting this fall, she will also be of- fering more inti I from her h di However, watercolour is not the only medium Karen specializes in. Perspective drawings of homes and unique architecture have made up of much of her commissioned work. Over her artistic career, Karen has commissioned over 100 customized art pieces for clients, with a focus primarily on estates, private homes, cottages, farms and commercial buildings. Karen's architectural drawings have won her much acclaim. Not only was her watercolour painting “Cuban Rhythms” honoured with an Award of Excellence by the Town of Ajax and PineRidge Arts Council at their 9th An- nual Juried Show, but she was also selected to produce custom paintings for many popular corporations. She was granted the opportunity to create a waterco- lour depiction of the new campus at the University of On- tario Institute of Design, and has also custom paintings for Beatrice Foods, Ontario Casino Corp., and the Port Perry Community Memorial Hospital. As Karen explains the drawing process, it’s simply in- credible to see how concise and intricate the detailing and measurements have to be to create a perspective illustra But such precise steps are what mak ished illu: trations so captivating and unbelievably close to the look Sth ANNIVERSARY « : ite | 40.0CTOBER.40 pages 17 COURT Bir Shipwreck Point painted in 2007 of a photograph. Karen works hand-in-hand with her clients to ensure her watercolour creations perfectly capture the personal el- ement that initially drew the cli- ent to the space or landscape. However, personal photo- graphs are not the only options for clients interested in Karen’s customized work. Karen says it’s Turn to page 18 FOCUS - OCTOBER 2008 17 9722108 8:39:47 AM |