Stages of a pencil portrait

Drawing faces and hair has to be my favorite subject. My portraits usually capture the spirit of a person, instead of being realistic. When I first took classes for figure drawing my professor told me I did not see truth. As I got older and worked at my faces, I realized that I saw the truth of a person because I could draw their spirit. If that professor wanted his truth perhaps he should have taken up photography instead. At the time of his critique I was young and vulnerable. He devastasted me and shook my confidence. It wasn't until I started to work on my own and develop my own style that I became confident in my own interpretation. I want to inspire artists rather than teach them. I believe that talent is a gift from God and is as unique as our DNA.

We love to go to the Cape, especially Falmouth. There is a sweet little cove adjacent to one of the Falmouth beaches that the girls love. My girls grew up catching frogs, strolling through woods, picking up treasures along the beach and bringing home all kinds of critters. To this day, they love to grab a bucket and see what they can find at the beach. This is a little watercolor from my sketchbook.

The Skateboarder

As I visited the lobby of the hosital, I passed two young boys carryng skateboards. They were leaving, as I was going into the lobby, but I could still see them as I sat in a chair to wait in the lobby. They were outfited in baggy pants, wearing special skateboard sneakers and wearing their baseball caps on backwards. Their shirts were open, waving in the breeze, exposing the "coolest" tee shirts, as they got outside. They eyed the slanted brick wall that bordered the large plate glass windows of the waiting room. I knew just what they were thinking..."that would have made an awesome ramp to skateboard." I am so grateful for this knowledge bestowed by my daughter, Ashley. Ashley has been skateboarding since she was five and has incredible agility and balance. I love that my girls keep me up to date with all the current music, clothing and language. I believe that when we have a link to the youth, as artists we can see and memorize the moments with more insight.

Apple Picking Season

Watercolor sketch of apples and a bucket of strawberries on Arches paper













I love the fall with pumpkins and apples and all the Autumn leaves. Apples make me think about picking apples and bringing them home to bake a pie like my grandmother used to make.

The Treasures of Fall

Painting and sketching pumpkin has always been a favorite over the years. Autumn is my favorite time of year.

New Portrait

A pencil and watercolor sketch portrait.

Ashley's Santa

Watercolor and craft glitter. My daughter gave me the Santa I am using as the model for this Santa, when she returned from a week away in Lake George. I love it so much, that I decided to make it this year's Santa for my Christmas cards.

Think About Christmas

Watercolor and craft glitter

When I was a little girl and I had a bad dream or if I was worried about something in the middle of the night...my mother would always comfort me by saying "Karen, just think about Christmas." At about seven years old I had some difficulty with my ears. Every time I would lie down the wax in my ears would clog the canal and I couldn't hear. It was terrifying and I would call for my mohter in the middle of the night. She would come into my bedroom, prop up my pillows and show me how to lie down so that the canals of my ears would not clog. She told me everything would be all right and to think about Christmas. My mother didn't know it then but she taught me from such an early age how to change my mind. How to stare into the face of adversity, trusting that everything will be all right and while you were waiting to think about Christmas. Every year I remember we would have some poor family to help, a hayride to a Senior Center or more recently a Christmas Fair for the elderly. My sisters and I always made gifts for each other by hand. We have been raised to cherish the real meaning behind Christmas in action and deed thanks to my mother.

I love Christmas, and every year I lose myself early fall into making cards, crafts, paintings and writing about Christmas. When Christmas arrives I always feel that I have thoughly enjoyed the Holiday and it's meaning. I have started painting my Santas. They will become miniature paintings, cards and keepsakes.

I have begun my journey to Think About Christmas.