Meet Karen Winters

Today we’d like to introduce you to Karen Winters.

Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
A native Californian, art and the love of nature have been lifelong passions for me.

I received my BA from UCLA, with a minor in Art History. A subsequent masters in journalism (also from UCLA) led to an award-winning career in advertising, followed by new ventures in broadcast news and documentary film making. Through all the years and all the travels, a sketchbook has been my steady companion, recording Egyptian archaeological digs, the movements of killer whales, or the gestures of Tibetan monks. Now a full-time artist, I actively travel and paint on location throughout California and the western United States. I do a lot of work on commission and enjoy venturing as far north as Mendocino and south to San Diego to create original artwork for my clients.

My work is inspired by the natural world, whether the medium I choose is watercolor, oil, acrylic or pastel. I am most interested in capturing the quality of light as it defines a landscape, a still life or floral portrait. I make a practice of painting daily, either in studio or, my preference, in the beautiful California landscape. I would characterize my style as borrowing from the best of impressionism and realism. Among my historical influences have been tonalist George Inness, Edgar Payne, J Bond Francisco, and many of the other early California impressionists.

Through group and solo shows, my work has been exhibited at the Autry National Museum, the Pasadena Museum of California Art, the Bowers Museum of Cultural Art, the Riverside Museum of Art, the San Luis Obispo Art Museum, the Santa Paula Art Museum, the Riverside Museum of Art, The Pasadena Museum of History, the Long Beach Museum of Art, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in LA, and the Yosemite National Park Museum. My work is also in the collection of the Huntington Library. My paintings have been in National Watercolor Society shows, and won awards at Bowers Museum invitational events.

Please tell us about your art.
I’m a California representational painter in the early California impressionist tradition. The early masters – William Wendt, Edgar Payne, Guy Rose, Hanson Puthuff and others, are a frequent inspiration. My objective is to capture not just the likeness of a landscape or seascape, but what it feels like being there. I paint in watercolor, acrylic, pastel and oil, but oil is my preferred medium these days.

I really enjoy painting custom work on commission – especially locations that are special to my clients. Quite often people move out of California and remember a beach, a mountaintop, a particular street that they wish they could return to. Not too long ago I did a painting of Windansea Beach in La Jolla for someone who had moved to Texas. It brought back happy memories of his surfing days! I love being able to make that happen.

Do you have any advice for other artists? Any lessons you wished you learned earlier?
As a painter, I encourage others to try to draw or paint every day, and to paint from life as much as possible. “Brush miles” are the key to constant improvement. No matter what stage you are in your career, you can always get better by practice, study, taking workshops and visiting galleries and museums for inspiration.

How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
I participate in professional juried group shows and events quite often and currently have a painting in the Yosemite Renaissance show, exhibited at Yosemite National Park Museum Gallery. I actively embrace online selling and also welcome people to come to my studio in the Pasadena area to see work that they’ve previewed on my website, www.karenwinters.com

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.karenwinters.com
• Phone: 818 601-7447
• Email: karen@karenwinters.com
• Instagram: @kwintt (two ts)
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/karen.winters.artist
• Twitter: @kwint (one t)
• Other: karensblog.com (art blog)

Image Credit:
Glenn Winters (for all photos)

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