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Karen is a native Texan born and raised in Dallas, now living in southern California. Karen was first interested in art when she was accepted into an honors art class at the age of 13. She has been creating art non-stop since then.
Education
• Workshops with Greg LaRock, Debra Huse, Richard Morris
• Studies at Studio 2nd Street in Encinitas, CA, with Ron and Vanessa Lemen and
Watts Atelier in Encinitas, CA
• Apple Regional Multimedia Center, TX, January 1991 to August 1992,
Certificate of Computer Graphics in Multimedia.
• North Texas State University, Denton, TX, September 1984 to August 1987
Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree; Major: Advertising Art, Dean's List.
• American College of Switzerland, Leysin, Switzerland. Studied art history
and plein air painting in Geneve, Paris, Monaco, Venice, Florence, and
Monet's Gardens, Summer with Rob Erdle 1986.
Professional Affiliations
• Laguna Plein-Air Painters Association
• Southern California Plein Air Painters Association
Short Bio
She first started painting plein air paintings in watercolors on a hillside overlooking Lake Geneva while attending the American College of Switzerland in the summer of 1986. She was influenced by her instructor Rob Erdle's bright, colorful, whimsical landscape paintings.
After receiving several degrees in commercial art, Karen spent 20 plus years on her career in graphic art, illustration and Internet design for the entertainment and communication industries.
In 2005 she jumped back into drawing and painting by attending Watts Atelier in Encinitas, CA. In 2006 she started her Jazz Cafe series of musician paintings. November 8 - December 22, 2006 she had her first Jazz Cafe show. The show was called "Jazz It Up in November" featuring Jazz music 4 days a week at E Street Cafe in downtown Encinitas, CA.
After taking a plein air workshop with Greg LaRock in Spring 2007 she rememberd how much she loved painting outside.
Art Exhibits
Hearth Gallery, San Marcos, CA, June- July 2008
Cole Library, Carlsbad, CA, February 5 - March 7 2008
Studio 2nd Street Holiday Show, Encinitas, CA, December 15, 2007 - January 25, 2008
Laguna Plein Air Painters ³Less is More² Laugna Beach, CA November 17 - December 28 2007
Newport Harbor Nautical Museum, Newport Beach, CA September 16 - October 18 2007
SOCALPAPA ³Paints the Peninsula², Newport Beach, CA September 9 - 16 2007
E-Street Cafe, Encinitas, CA - November- December 2006
Waters Edge, Gig Harbor, WA - July 1994 to 2002
Sumner Art, Sumner WA - July 1994 to 1998
Galerie 224, Laguna Beach, CA - June 1994 to 1997
Partners Art, Laguna Niguel, CA - June 1994 to 1996
Framing Warehouse, Carloton, TX - May 1992 1994
500X Gallery, Dallas, TX - May 1992
Florence Art Gallery, Dallas, TX - November 1990- March 1991
City Art Gallery, Dallas, TX - September-October 1990
City Art Gallery, Dallas, TX - Christmas Show 1990
500X Gallery, Dallas, TX - May 1990
Thrasher Gallery, Plano, TX - April 1989
500X Gallery, Dallas, TX - May 1989
Expressions, Dallas, TX - February 1987
Please feel free to contact me.
Karen Brake
760-815-3804
