Karen Brussat Butler

Artist Statement

My work is figurative and narrative, I like to tell a story. I look at how people are affected and how they relate to their surroundings.
By using the combination of flowing brushwork with drawing, I hope for a final image that is both complex and interesting.
The colors in my watercolor palette are many. When the pigment and water are applied to the heavy pure white paper and they begin to run and flow, unexpected accidents occur creating both subtleties and strengths. Those transparent washes are unique to this medium and one of the reasons that I love it. But I also like to combine the subtle areas with areas of strong colors. I also like to build up layers to create mystery surrounding the figures. The viewer at first might be drawn to the rich contrasts of light and dark or strong colors, but I hope that the attention will turn to the figures and their interactions - their gazes, gestures, and body positions. Most important to me are the faces that convey the many human emotions that can be expressed. The washes are the environment that surround the figures in my work where the narrative is often hidden. The ideas and clues are there to be found.