Contact Information:

Additional works available, please contact for
more information.

651-690-5315

email: karen@raincollective.com

ARTIST STATEMENT:

I am one of 31 million Americans (according to the US Census Bureau) who love to draw. I am aware of some of its lure for me but there is more to it than I can articulate; people have filled books about it. Drawing is immediate. It requires little preparation, some graphite and paper. You can carry it anywhere. Once I put down a line or a smudge, I’m off. Results come quickly and yet are full of discovery. In each of these recent abstract drawings, I start with my left hand, draw a couple of lines or shapes, or even fill up the whole page. The use of my non-dominant hand to start helps me to get out of patterns of thinking. And I am curious about the differences between the lines and shapes that each hand produces. Switching to my right hand I build up value, texture, contrast, etc. I do not set out to draw objects; yet, I do not avoid them. I enjoy the spontaneity and surprise in this process; it has kept me interested for many months.

I am interested in shapes and sometimes I like them with volume, rather than flat. So, when I saw the abstract sculpture of Ruth Duckworth at the Minneapolis Institute of Art in the spring of 2006 I was inspired to try abstract shapes with volume. Her work is largely creamy white ceramic shapes. I am interested in gravity (or weight) juxtaposed with the lightness
of white and pale color. I'm still discovering new ways to express this idea. Some paintings have moved into less volume (they are flatter) and more color.  But the gravity ones say more to me. I plan to stay with abstract for a while though.

RESUME:

2008
Hand to Hand Project, Minnesota Center for Book Arts
Attitudes: of Abstraction, Rain Collective group show

2007
Rain Collective Fall Art Show
North East Minneapolis Art-a-Whirl

2006
Keg House Fall Art Show
Sally Brown Art School Spring Show
North East Minneapolis Art-a-Whirl

2000 - 2005
Art Classes (drawing, pastel, oil painting)
Sally Brown Studio
The Keg House Collective

2004
Solo show at Visitation Monastery School

2003
Two woman student show at Sally Brown Studio

1991
M.A. in Counseling Psychology
University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota

1967 - 2004
Teacher of French in Twin Cities:
Derham Hall, Holy Angels, Alliance Francaise, Visitation Monastery

1967
B. A. in French and Music
College of St. Catherine, St. Paul, Minnesota