Painting fills my need to create and is my key to reaching inside to transform my passion for color into an outward vision. With my brush I go on an adventure to convey a story or idea. Being a native of Louisiana and growing up in its natural beauty; I am particularly moved to paint scenes of southern life, music, floras, landscapes, abstracts and people in everyday activities. I derive joy from the creative process of painting and the endless possibilities to paint keep me excited and challenged. The people I meet and the things that I get to explore along the way add a rich seasoning to my life and my paintings; they fill me with a storehouse of ideas waiting to be expressed. I am in awe and reverence of the colors, lines and values that I am blessed to see everyday as I continue on my life-long journey as an artist.

This Louisiana Artist does contemporary colorful work focusing on music, southern life, landscapes, music related, dance, floral, figurative scenes, and abstracts. Karen primarily works in water media techniques using watercolor and acrylics on paper and canvas. She also does batik, pastel and collage with some of her mixed media works
Karen is a signature member of the Louisiana Watercolor Society and members of many art organizations such as Southwestern Watercolor Society, Mid Southern Watercolor Society, Hoover Watercolor Society.
Karen was able to apply creativity in other aspects of her life including owning a clothing store (La Petite and Accessories) for several years and then traveling with IBM as a Sr. Business Analyst in software delivery. These experiences led her to appreciate Louisiana culture and learn about other parts of the world as she traveled. Some of her favorite subjects are pelicans, alligators, birds, beach scenes and people in activities such as musicians playing, industrial equipment, the working man, antique cars or dancers. She recently has been pursuing photography as an art form especially birds and landscapes.
Karen won the "Kroger Mural Call for the Kroger #533 Store Flournoy Lucas Rd. & Ellerbe Rd. in Shreveport LA. Oct. 2016. She was also juried into the 2016 show for Southwestern Watercolor Society with "Little Blue Heron" and in 2015 with "Church Ladies and 2012 SWS with "Swamp Gator." Juried into the 2011 Southwestern Watercolor Society she won "The Edgar Whitney Award" ($1000) with "Oysters Southern Style." In the 2010 Louisiana Watercolor International Exhibition in New Orleans she won the Memorial Award with "Oysters Southern Style" giving her a signature status(LWS). She had two paintings, "The Look" & "Dancing Violins" printed in the National Publication "The New Creative Artist" by Nita Leland, July 2006. She had "The Look" juried into the 2007 Louisiana Watercolor International show & "Me & My Guy" juried into the Grand National Show for Mississippi Watercolor Society for 2007.
Karen has paintings that hang at the "Good Eats" restaurants in Bossier City. She also is part of the Artport Exhibition that hangs in the Shreveport Regional Airport. Her painting "The Joy of a Rose" rotated in different areas in Shreveport after winning "Highway Haiku". Her painting "Dancing Violins" was licensed to the Shreveport Symphony. The Shreveport Red River Revel will be used her art "Saxophones" for the 2008 Sponsor limited prints. She was commission for a festival poster in Monroe, LA for the South Central Regional Music Conference 2012.
She has recently started a Silk Screening company "T-Shirts Done Right," to go along with her gift items and art. In the past she has been a software consultant and Business Analyst for IBM and other companies as a Business Analyst or PM for 15 years. She also worked as a Supplier Quality Representative for parts out of the country to the General Motors plant. She owned La Petite and Accessories on Line Ave for several years before switching careers to software delivery and supplier quality. She has an MBA and her undergraduate degree was in Fashion Merchandising with minors in Business and Art.

Groups & Juried Shows

Southwestern Watercolor Society 53rd Annual Member Exhibition with "Little Blue Heron"- Sept. 2016- Dallas. Judge- Stan Miller. -Savoir Faire/Raphael Award
Hoover Watercolor Society August 2016 "Jack Richardson Award" with "Street Dancing"
Shreveport Art Club 2016- 1st Photography "Hello"
Southwestern Watercolor Society 52nd Annual Member Exhibition with "Church Ladies"-Judge- Mike Bailey- Sept. 2015- Dallas.
SWS 2012 Juried Show with "Swamp Gator" -Judge-Mel Stabin
Southwestern Watercolor Society Juried Show 2011-Edgar Whitney Award ($1000 award -1st) paintings 2011-Alex Powers Judge.
Louisiana Watercolor Society's 40th Annual International Show & now a Signature Member of LWS (Show May 2010 in New Orleans), LWS International Exhibit Memorial Award 2010, Louisiana Watercolor Society's 38th Juried International Exhibition, New Orleans, LA, May 2009, Louisiana Watercolor Society's 36th Juried International Exhibition, New Orleans, LA, May 2007
The "Red River Revel" 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2015,upcoming 2016. The Red River Revel Poster for Sponsors 2008
Creative Art Connection Membership Show, Bossier City 2010 Best of Show, Creative Art Connection Spring Show, Bossier City, Library 2009 1st Acrylic, 1st Mixed Media
Louisiana Artists, Inc. Art Works 2007, 2008 & 2009, Sabine F Festival Poster 2009
Artport 2015, 2012 and 2007--currently hanging at Shreveport Regional Airport-juried by Kalmbach Smith Meadows. Katfish4 Kids two 5 ft catfish 2008
The Hoover Watercolor Society Dr. Hank Stoer Awared Juror's Choice Award (Best of Show) March 2010
The Hoover Watercolor Society 2008 Lytle's Theater of Art Award, The Hoover Watercolor Society 2007, The Hoover Watercolor Society 2006
The Mississippi Grand International Show Jackson, MS 2007, Highway Haku sponsored by Shreverport Arts Council-"The Joy of a Rose" on billboard, Texarkana Tri-State Competition-1st in Floral 2005
Hobe Sound & Boca Ration Juried Fine Arts Festivals in Florida -2005,Edom Arts Festival-Texas 2007

Memberships: Southwestern Watercolor Society, American Watercolor Society, Hoover Watercolor Society, Louisiana Watercolor Society, Mississippi Watercolor Society, Creative Art Connection , Louisiana Artists, Inc., Hoover Watercolor Society, Shreveport Art Club.

*Karen teaches art workshops for groups and in her home studio a few time a year. You may sign up for her email list of workshops or speak to her about teaching your group.
website: http://artistkarenharrington.com

Louisiana State University Shreveport