Karen Small
Painting helps me move part of myself out into the world. In the 90's I painted
memories from my childhood. After 2000 while living with the love of my life I painted
our life together. Many of the paintings from that time are a combination of what was
happening in the world in contrast to our ideal world living on two wooded acres with
space and studios.
After the death of my partner I painted my grief and sorrow. I soon found myself living in downtown Portland in an apartment looking down at the tops of the old elm trees. I painted what I could see, sometimes in abstract. Also I painted the street people, Alice and Blanket Man.
Moving to Manzanita took me in a different direction. I immersed myself in the environment, joining the dragon boat team, and working in the garden while drawing Neahkahnie, the trees off my deck, spots around town.
Slowly I began painting again, I set up my plein air easel at the bay, out at the farm and other beautiful places. I did a series for a show at the Hoffman which are beautiful, edgy, and quirky commentaries about the destruction of the natural environment for houses and profit, Here Today Gone Tomorrow, and The Elk are Watching, are examples of that series.
The paintings following those are direct commentary on the climate crisis showing fire, clearcutting, extreme wind and humans being pushed to depart.
My current set of paintings represent for me a big taking in of breath. The past two summers I have been painting outdoors taking in the beauty of the environment around me, Netarts Bay, The Art Farm, the Nehalem River, and The Bay from Wheeler. Ive found a wonderful group of people to paint with. Such a joy.
My current process is to mix as many colors as possible on my pallet, look for a long time, follow the paintbrush as it moves from the pallet to the painting surface. I'm fascinated by color especially finding close values of different hues.
I hope you enjoy this sampling of my work. It's a pleasure to show at Childhood's End.
Karen LaGrave Small
After the death of my partner I painted my grief and sorrow. I soon found myself living in downtown Portland in an apartment looking down at the tops of the old elm trees. I painted what I could see, sometimes in abstract. Also I painted the street people, Alice and Blanket Man.
Moving to Manzanita took me in a different direction. I immersed myself in the environment, joining the dragon boat team, and working in the garden while drawing Neahkahnie, the trees off my deck, spots around town.
Slowly I began painting again, I set up my plein air easel at the bay, out at the farm and other beautiful places. I did a series for a show at the Hoffman which are beautiful, edgy, and quirky commentaries about the destruction of the natural environment for houses and profit, Here Today Gone Tomorrow, and The Elk are Watching, are examples of that series.
The paintings following those are direct commentary on the climate crisis showing fire, clearcutting, extreme wind and humans being pushed to depart.
My current set of paintings represent for me a big taking in of breath. The past two summers I have been painting outdoors taking in the beauty of the environment around me, Netarts Bay, The Art Farm, the Nehalem River, and The Bay from Wheeler. Ive found a wonderful group of people to paint with. Such a joy.
My current process is to mix as many colors as possible on my pallet, look for a long time, follow the paintbrush as it moves from the pallet to the painting surface. I'm fascinated by color especially finding close values of different hues.
I hope you enjoy this sampling of my work. It's a pleasure to show at Childhood's End.
Karen LaGrave Small
