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Paintings » Karen Smittle Karen Smittle - Artist Biography Having spent the majority of my life in somewhat remote, isolated regions of the country, my work has been greatly influenced by the environment. Growing up on the South Texas coast, where the land is flat and nondescript, I was naturally drawn to the horizon. The sky always figured prominently in my work, but it wasn't until a trip to the Southwest that I realized the metaphoric power of a dynamic sunset. It became my main focus, and has remained so for nearly twenty years, providing me an endless source of inspiration. Even in works in which the sky would not appear to be the primary component, I am acutely aware of the natural abstractions created by the effects of light and atmosphere on the landscape and try to depict the mood these elements evoke. Of primary interest to me is color, light, and movement, the image being the vehicle for their study. Since the aspects of nature I depict are in a constant, and often very rapid, state of transition, I try to incorporate this transient, flowing quality in my work through a fluid use of the medium and multilayered evolution of the image. Technique and craftsmanship are of great importance to me, as I wish to draw the viewer in for a closer examination and, thus, a better understanding of both the work itself and the experience upon which it was based. Through subjective realism I try to depict the ephemeral, abstract qualities of nature and the emotional, sometimes metaphorical responses they can inspire. |
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