karen kramer

Artist Statement

Through the use of color, transparency, and layering, my goal is to create lyrical and magical representations of the natural world, whether the subject is a humble group of leaves, a majestic mountain range or an endangered bird.

I paint everyday elements of the natural world that I observe in my urban neighborhood, in a wilderness, or in tropical jungles, and work to capture their mystery, variation, and whimsicality. In the natural world I see endless contradictions within the same landscape: light/ dark; arid/ wet; living/ dying. I am compelled to examine this harmonious paradox in my work. I am transfixed with the complex tapestry of nature and its constant flux.

I am drawn to the spontaneity and constant motion that is ever-present in the natural world, which I reflect in my painting process. I begin a painting by developing the ground—spilling and in turns adding different colors of paint onto the paper. Though I manipulate the paint using various techniques, there is always an element of surprise and wildness. I strive to maintain this feeling of movement and spontaneity as I develop the painting to its finished state.