"California Poppies" Painting

Maria Karpenko is an internationally collected artist whose work bridges abstraction and representation, rooted in Impressionism yet boldly contemporary. She began painting at age nine, quickly gaining recognition after winning a national art competition in Germany. By age ten she was already exhibiting and selling her work. Her early love for French Impressionism led her to study Claude Monet closely, even visiting his home and gardens in Giverny to connect with his legacy. Maria pursued diverse academic and professional paths, earning a Bachelor of Science from the University of Waterloo, a Master’s in Journalism from Harvard, and building a successful career as Head of Marketing at a Silicon Valley tech company. Yet painting remained her constant thread, the practice she always returned to. Today, Maria is best known for her expressive large-scale canvases, rich in texture and color. She works in both oils and acrylics, using traditional brush techniques and brushless techniques like sponges, squeegees, bottles, and even blow dryers. ​ Maria enjoys collaborating closely with collectors, guiding them through a thoughtful creative process that ensures each commission resonates with their space, both visually and emotionally. For her, painting is not only an act of creativity but a connection to history and humanity.