.
"Where artists become better artists"
Copyright © 1999 * Art In The Mountains * All Rights Reserved
"I paint watercolors
because I love the
freedom that the paint has
on the paper.  I like
watercolor for its free and
wild qualities, forcing the
artist to adjust to its many
moods.  For the past few
years, I’ve enjoyed adding
collage to my watercolor
paintings, because I love
the textures and the color
discoveries of collage".
  
    Enhance texture and bring excitement
    to your traditional paintings with mixed
    media and collage.  Karen will have
    you working large and loose -
    completely abstract by the end of the
    week.   You will learn how to think in
    terms of shape to create a good
    design, to push colors to exciting new
    levels and to apply collage and texture
    to create dynamic paintings.  Karen is
    featured in Splash 6, Watercolor: Fun
    and Free, Searching for the Artist
    Within, Watercolor: The Spirit of
    Spontaneity and in the Watercolor
    Magic Magazine.  She is a signature
    member of the Transparent
    Watercolor Society of America.
 

"Golden Beauty"
 
Karen Knutson

Start Traditionally, Move to Abstraction

coming in 2011

Bend, OR

Cost $tba

Intermediate to Advanced

    KAREN KNUTSON.  

    Like most artists, I started painting traditional
    watercolors, wanting my paintings to look like my subject.
    Lately, all that has changed. I now try to make my
    paintings unique and it’s unimportant whether the
    painting resembles the subject or not. It is my hope that
    you’ll be drawn to my paintings by their colors and by the
    peaceful nature of my work.

    I started my journey in watercolor in 1985, and have been
    painting almost every day since that time. I truly love
    being an artist and feel very blessed to actually get paid
    to do something that I love so much. My routine consists
    of teaching workshops, participating in art fairs in the
    summer months, and painting commission paintings
    and original paintings for the galleries in the winter
    months.

    I attended Concordia College in Moorhead, MN and have
    taken many watercolor workshops from nationally known
    artists, such as Karlyn Holman, Mary Ann Beckwith,
    Gerald Brommer, Nita Engle, Barbara Nechis, John
    Salminen, and Diane Faxon. I have taken countless more
    workshops, but the ones mentioned are the ones that
    had the greatest influence over the direction of my
    artwork. I will always be eternally grateful to my first
    watercolor instructor, Raghnild Berstol, whose positive
    comments and free spirited demonstrations headed me
    in the right direction and I’ve been addicted to watercolor
    ever since.



    Originally from a ranch in Montana, I now reside in
    Minneapolis with my husband of 30 years. We have two
    children who are grown up and on their own. We love to
    visit Lake Superior and the North Shore as much as
    possible. It’s a favorite, inspirational spot to paint. I’ve
    painted countless images of that shoreline and Split
    Rock Lighthouse, too.

    My goal as an artist is to constantly grow and expand my
    knowledge of this spontaneous and fun medium. Lately,
    the ghost imagery paintings are a great challenge, and
    the public’s response to them has been very rewarding.
    These illusionary paintings mix abstraction with realism,
    such as "Before the Wine".

    My paintings are featured in numerous art books
    including Splash 6, Watercolor Fun & Free, and Searching
    for the Artist Within, and in the magazine, Watercolor
    Magic (Aug.’04).    I am a signature member of
    Transparent Watercolor Society of America, Red River
    Watercolor Society and Northern Plains Watercolor
    Society. My artwork is now being featured on gift bags
    produced by Garven, Inc. They can be found in retails
    stores such as Target and Walmart. My artwork is also
    handled my numerous galleries.

Class Outline

     My paintings are starting to be more abstract with usually something that is recognizable in the painting. I used to be drawn
    to paintings for their colors, but now I’m drawn to paintings with dynamic design.  First and foremost, I like to have fun while I
    paint, and I’m constantly trying out new things, so that I will grow as an artist.  I feel like the luckiest person alive to be able to
    do something that I love so much!

    In this workshop, students may choose whether they want to paint in watercolors or acrylic, or both!  Then, we’ll be adding
    collage, and lots of other mediums into the mix to enhance textures and excitement in our paintings.  The class will start out
    learning the application of collage, and taking the fear out of painting.  Then, students will learn how to take a traditional
    subject and make it abstract or at least, semi-abstract.  Think of a still life for instance.  Traditionally, you would have lighting,
    perfect placement of objects, etc.  We’ll learn several ways to turn that setting into abstract and think of every subject in terms
    of simple shapes, and good design.  How fun is that???  Karen will also have fun techniques to add textures in your
    paintings. We’ll learn how to push colors to exciting levels, and how to have glowing colors. Good design tips will also be
    offered.  By the end of the week, we’ll be painting large and loose -completely abstract, working in mixed media and collage.  
    This workshop is guaranteed to loosen you up!