Karen Stombaugh:  An Artist’s Pathway

Artist’s Statement: I have been passionate about “art-making” from the beginning. Now in this “third stage of living”, post a full career in nursing, I am gratefully free to pursue this love on a more intense and professional basis.  I also have a deep interest in nature, and gardening. For me, art, nature, and garden exist to celebrate and satisfy the demands of the spiritual and visual. The garden represents my “daily bread” and gives me a sense of awe, reverence, peace, and communion.  With either that first a.m. garden/nature walk, or with the start of a new painting, I feel a fresh sense of expectancy and curiosity.  Trees, plants, flowers, botanicals, and the natural landscape symbolize the dynamic dance of life and death, renewal and submission, mystery and transformation: striving, adapting, and distorting to the demands of environment and weather.  It is no surprise that this is what inspires the subject matter of so many of my paintings!  Albrecht Durer (16th century German artist) said “Art lives in nature…..so whoever can extract it can possess it “. I am partial to the use of soft pastels because of their color and texture potential.

Biography:

Karen grew up on a farm in S.W. Minnesota.  Although there were no formal art classes available, she was often sought out to work on art projects.  She took her first drawing class in 1966 at Augsburg College, Mpls., Minn. while pursuing a career in nursing. Milestones occurred in 1983 with the achievement of a BFA in studio arts and completion of illustrations for the children’s book: Bocheck in Poland. Karen continued her development as an artist by taking classes and workshops and doing a series of oil portrait paintings.  In 2002, Karen moved to a property in Deephaven, Minnesota which had a separate “carriage-house/studio” that now overlooks her garden. Her paintings may be viewed there upon request. She is also currently developing a studio on a farmstead near Tyler, Minnesota; a return to her “prairie roots”.

Resume:

Exhibitions: One-Person Shows

2010, Recent Pastel Paintings, 1st Central Lutheran Church, Mpls. Minn
2009, “Minnesota Wild”, Plymouth Creek Center and City Hall, Plymouth, Minn.
2008, “Nature’s Gardens”, studio and garden show, Deephaven, Minn.
2006, “Open studio and Garden show” Deephaven, Minn.
2001, 1993, 1990: Three private “Art in the Garden” shows, Crystal, Minn.

Group and Juried shows:

2011: Robin Gallery's 2011 "Extremely Minnesota" Juried Art Show, Robinsdale, Minn.
2011: Lake Country Pastel Society's 2011 All Members Exhibit: "On Inspiration"
2010:  LCPS Fall Show; "The Art of Pastels", Anoka Ramsey Community College, Anoka, Minn.
2010:   99th Annual Minnesota State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition
2010:   “Art in the Garden”, a studio and garden show with pastelist: Elizabeth
Strootman , Deephaven, Minn. 
2010:  “Flowers Fantastique”  Exhibit at Minnesota Landscape
Arboretum in collaboration with Wilcock Gallery in Excelsior, Minn.
2010:   IAPS (International Art Pastel Society) 15TH  Juried Exhibition at City of
Brea Art Gallery, Brea, California
2010:  “A Touch of Red” , LCPS member show
2009:  Minnesota State Fair Fine Arts
2006-2009:  Five separate Lake Country Pastel Society bi-annual member shows
2009:  13th Annual Primavera show, Plymouth Creek Center, Plymouth, Minn.
2007:   “Minnetonka Magic” show, Wilcock Gallery, Excelsior, Minn.
2006:   Minnetonka Art Center spring members show
2005:   “Extremely Minnesota” show, Robbinsdale Gallery, Robinsdale, Minn.
2003:   “A Womens View”, Foss Gallery, Edina Art Center, Edina, Minn.

Awards:

Merit Award: Extremely Minnesota Juried Art Show at Robin Gallery, 2011
Patricia Kennedy Crump Memorial Pastel Award: Minnesota State Fair 2010
Honorable Mention:  Member show, Minnetonka Art Center, Spring 2007
Second Place: “Minnetonka Magic” show, Wilcock Gallery, Excelsior, Fall 2007
Merit Award:  Fall member show, Lake Country Pastel Society, 2007

Education: Bachelor of Fine Arts, University of Minnesota Series of  oil painting portraiture classes with Michael Frey Drawing class and misc. compositional classes with Annette LeSueur Watercolor/painting forum with Sally Brown Pastel workshops with Fred Somers, Rochelle Woldorsky, Richard McKinley and Elizabeth Moudry Abstract painting with Donna Bruni Impressionistic Landscape Painting with Reid Galey  Publications: 1983:  Bocheck in Poland:  colored pencil/ pen and ink illustrations, children’s book by Josepha K. Contoski, Polanie Publishing Co; Mpls. Minn.  Memberships: Lake Country Pastel Society Minneapolis Institute of Arts Pastel Society of America - Associate member