Thanks so much for supporting original art, just as emotional and evocative now as when prehistoric artists worked in the Lascaux caves.

When I taught high school history, I focused my lessons in world and US History around the arts. I found that painted works especially are mirrors into the soul, the society, and nature.

After graduating from Duke and George Washington University, working on Capitol Hill, teaching high school, and having two girls, I finally discovered my own passion for creating with any materials I could get my hands on.

In painting, I skipped canvases and went right to walls, doing large-scale residential and commercial murals. I then focused on children's artwork, doing lots of commissioned groupings for new parents-to-be and having a blast with polka dots and stripes (I still maintain that business, Karen's Cottage Studio).

I also really enjoy photography and look to my friend Serena Boggs, an amazing professional photographer behind Serena Boggs Artography, for inspiration.

I am working now on a combination of styles and experimenting with abstract and contemporary impressionism. I have a new series called, "Picture the Music", which more than anything was a starting point for abstracts- I could not decide where to go with it and interpreting music was a great way to plunge in!

Enjoy browsing my portfolio and I look forward to helping many people decorate with timeless original art!

Karen