In my altered books and collage art, my primary goal is to intertwine text and imagery in an interesting way. I find myself drawn to themes involving people, nature, and religion. My work integrates the written word with textured surfaces containing vintage images and layers of paper, paints, and embellishments, and I love using found objects in my art.

About the Artist ~ Picture from 2015

Biography

Born and raised in Northern California, I still live here with my family. Like so many other women, I try hard to do justice to my many roles as mother, wife, sister, daughter, middle school English teacher, and artist.

There was never a time in my life when I wasn’t doing something creative. I’ve drawn and doodled, written poetry and songs, sewn wedding dresses and embroidered, acted in plays, played the guitar, and sung in weddings and choirs. I’ve designed brochures, web pages, lesson plans, and worksheets. For the past 29 years, I’ve taught Language Arts to middle school students, the most creatively demanding job I know.

My art has taken a back seat to other interests and concerns in recent years. In 2009 I got my Master’s degree in Education from Touro University. And in 2014 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. After four surgeries and a year’s worth of chemotherapy, I feel like I’m finally getting back to normal. I had started running a couple of years ago and got back into it with full force this past year. I also love to write, do graphic design, and take photographs of old and rusty things.

I named my web site Karen’s Whimsy way back on 2002 because I didn’t feel tied to any one art form. I design and create collage art, jewelry, and altered books as the muse strikes. I enjoy playing with color and using vintage images, text, and found objects to inspire me. And I like to share what I learn as I progress on my artistic journey. My sincerest hope is that you will find some inspiration for your own art within these pages.

My artistic training consists of an intensive collage workshop with Jonathan Talbot, and two art workshops with Ann Baldwin.