Karen Mattson

I was born in December, 1944 in Wakefield, Michigan USA. After marriage, we moved to San Francisco, CA, then to Kwajalein, in the Marshall Islands. We moved to Alaska in 1968, raised five children and now have nine grandchildren. We live at a beautiful lake where I have my studio and gallery. I enjoy the ever-changing scenery of Alaska.My interest in art began at the age of six when I visited an art museum in Washington D.C. My interest was sparked by the fascination that human beings could create such extravagant masterpieces. I started painting with oils after my first child was born. Because of that major life change, my need to facilitate creativity was sparked once again. The added excitement of the spontaneity and surprises of watercolor came later on in my art career. It has become a major focus of mine to expand on the possibilities of this medium. My intrigue with florals is to capture the essence of the patterns and colors, and to portray my feelings of beauty to the viewer. I begin a piece by working on a carefully rendered sketch. I transfer that image onto my paper and begin the thrilling process; painting to the music of Mozart which inspires my artistic insight. When I am being creative, my heart and soul...

I am mostly self-taught, but have taken workshops from the following:

Teresa Ascone, Watercolor
Jeanne MacKenzie, Oils
Chuck McClachlan, Watercolors & Gouache
Christine Fortner, Watercolor
George Rodgers, Oils
Stephen Quiller, Watercolor, Acrylic, Gouache & Casein

Exhibitions:
*Alaska Watercolor Society Signature Shows and 32nd Annual Juried Art Show at Artic Rose Gallery and Artique, Ltd. Gallery, respectively
*2006 Art For Alaska Parks at Stephan Fine Art Gallery, Anchorage, Alaska
*Paint America 100 Alaska State Finalist for 2006
*Hotel Captain Cook Whale's Tail - Anchorage, Alaska, May 2007
*Bagels Alaska Gallery, April 2006, September 2007, Dec 2007
*Alaska State Fair, '06,'07 2008
*Many others during the 1970's and beyond

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Art show at Artic Rose Gallery; 410 L Street; Anchorage, Alaska for the First Friday in May, 2011 and continues through the month.

August 2011 will have an art show at Rusty's in Palmer, Alaska. Second Saturday reception planned and the show continues through the month.

Will be part of a group effort by VFAA for a "Large Format Show" coming soon in Alaska!