"I believe that art is an alchemical activity. The painter’s journey can be seen as a process which is analogous to the alchemist’s journey - a quest for the gold of sublime creation, where the philosopher’s stone is the alchemist/painter herself. The practitioner uses chemical substances as the prima... Read More

"I believe that art is an alchemical activity. The painter’s journey can be seen as a process which is analogous to the alchemist’s journey - a quest for the gold of sublime creation, where the philosopher’s stone is the alchemist/painter herself. The practitioner uses chemical substances as the prima materia, or raw materials and seeks transform these into great works. The process is successful to the extent that the practitioner herself is transformed. The use of alchemical symbols in my paintings references this process."

Karen completed her bachelor’s degree in visual arts and applied design at O’Halloran Hill TAFE Campus in 2005 when she won the Minter Ellison Rising Stars Award as the top woman vizarts graduate of her school. She runs her arts practice from her home studio at Yankalilla where she alternates between portraiture and abstract painting. Her abstract paintings document a fascination with alchemy and the many correspondences between the visual and alchemical arts.

QUALIFICATIONS

2005 Bachelor of Visual Arts and Applied Design, Onkaparinga Institute of TAFE , O’Halloran Hill Campus, South Australia
         1978 Master of Psychology, Flinders University, South Australia
         1976 Bachelor of Arts (Honours) University of Adelaide, South Australia

Member of the Royal South Australian Society of Artists

AWARDS AND PRIZES

2010 Merit award, Solar Art Prize, Royal South Australian
Society of Artists
2009 Selected as participating artist for “Faces of the Port”
portrait project.
2008 Second Prize. Country Artist Section, Port Adelaide Rotary Art Show
2005 Winner of the Minter Ellison Rising Stars Award
2002 Second Prize. Country Artist Section, Port Adelaide Rotary Art Show

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2009 “Heavenly Bodies” Links Resort, Lady Bay
2008 -10 “Vintage”, Red Poles Gallery, McLaren Vale
2008 “The Meaning of Life” Eye to Eye Gallery, Rundle St Adelaide
2007-09 Contemporary Art Exhibition Bungala House, Yankalilla
2006-09 Princes Contemporary Art Exhibitions, Dequetteville Tce.
Kent Town
2001-09 Victor Harbor Rotary Art Shows
2005 ”Hamkari” Graduate Exhibition, Red Poles Gallery,
McLaren Vale
2005 “I see Red”, Red Poles Gallery, McLaren Vale
2005 “Stretch Marks” Urban Cow Studio, Frome St. Adelaide
2005 “Beyond the Canvas: 3D Art” Leafy Seadragon Festival
Yankalilla
2000-05 Various exhibitions, Bruce Wilson Gallery O’Halloran Hill

2004 “Immerse Your Senses”, Scotch College, Adelaide
2004 - 10 Various exhibitions, McLaren Vale Visitor Information
Centre
2004-10 “Maestros and Apprentices” Helpmann Academy, Adelaide
2004-10 Yorke Peninsula Art Exhibitions, Ardrossan Town Hall
2004 “A4PLAY” , U of SA, Underdale Campus Gallery
2003 “Heartbeat of the Surf”, Noarlunga Arts Centre, Port Noarlunga
2003 “First Date”, Artroom Gallery, Hyde Park
2002-04 “PaperPurchase”, Noarlunga Arts Centre, Port Noarlunga
2002-08 Port Adelaide Rotary Art Shows
2002 “Encounter 2002”, Bungala House, Yankalilla
2000-10 Yankalilla Art Shows, Yankalilla
1999 “I and Thou”, Yankalilla
1999 “Yearn”, Red House Gallery, Marion

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2009-10 Work featured in the foyer of the Hyatt Hotel North Tce Adelaide
2009 Wirra Wirra Winery, Mclaren Vale
2006 Lilla’s Café Yankalilla
2004 Aldgate Cafe, Aldgate

PUBLICATIONS

2008 –09 Work featured on the Art Logic art rental website
2003 Work featured on an educational CD produced by the Open Access College, South Australian Education Department.

PUBLIC ART

2010 Participating artist in Portrait event staged in Norwood Mall by Art Logic
2009 Participating artist in ANZ Bank Christmas cocktail party Portrait event at the Adelaide Convention Centre by Art Logic
2009 Participating artist in Portrait event at Amherst Gallery, Trinity Gardens
2007 Our Fragile Coast – Lantern project ,community artist in residence
2005 Leafy Thong Dragon on Carrickalinga Beach for the Leafy Seadragon Festival, Yankalilla