About

Karen Christiansen has always loved creating and was awarded the Art prize on graduating high school. After leaving a career in applied science to have a family, she completed a Certificate in Visual Arts, attending night classes at a nearby college, followed by night classes in watercolour. For 18 years, she planned and taught weekly art classes to children and teens.

A decade ago, Karen discovered pastel at a workshop in Tasmania. She fell in love with the pastel medium because of its immediacy, expressiveness and no brushes or drying time!

Her first subjects were her own children. In recent years she has been able to grow her practice from part-time to full-time, including regular teaching commitments.

My work flows from my own connections to people and places.

I am fascinated by people and with the unique stories and shared experiences embedded in our lives. I love the challenge of communicating visually not just a resemblance, but the emotions and even soul of a person.

My love of mountains, bush and the beach inspire me to translate the experience and memory of places that are meaningful to me - more often than not, tracing the light that reveals these forms.

Painting is the visual language I use to communicate my emotions; my response to the beauty of the Creator that shines through his creation.