Karen Schwarts

I believe my paintings are clear reflections of how I see life:  I use strong, bold lines and colors for portraits and figures while I take a more intuitive approach for landscapes and still lifes. I enjoy the decisive quality in very powerful images of women. These women are not weak-willed! I use colored pencil, watercolor crayons, and gouache along with watercolor & acrylics to convey strength.

My landscapes, however, explore a different terrain. Each landscape reflects my emotional response to that particular scene (and I paint only scenes that I personally have experienced.)

I have been influenced by several excellent teachers. I've taken workshops with Doug Walton, Linda Stevens-Moyer, Judi Betts, Jean Grasdorf, Gerald Brommer, Polly Hammett, Alex Powers, Carrie Brown and Cheng-Khee Chee, and have learned valuable lessons from all of them. But my primary inspiration has come from Jan Ledbetter and Phyllis Greenway to whom I am sincerely grateful for the support and encouragement they have shown me.

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