This selection of Karen Staal's paintings featured in the gallery throughout the month of March focuses on scenes of musicians.
Staal specializes in oil paintings of the human figure. While her portrayals are somewhat realistic, they are also interpretive. Intentionally steering away from realism, Staal interprets intimate human scenes by creating new harmonies with line, shape and color. With strong compositions and careful attention given to space surrounding and between figures, the emotional impact of that figure, or relationship between figures in her paintings, is strong.
Karen holds a BFA from the San Francisco Art Institute and also earned a degree from the Kendall School of Design. She studied abstract painting at American University in Washington, D.C. and portrait painting at the Ridgewood Art Academy.
Karen's solo exhibits in the past have been theme-related. Work in Two or Three Dimensions focused on issues surrounding social justice. The Dance was a series of paintings depicting movement and energy. The life-size series, Simple Times, was based on photos of aunts and uncles who remained hopeful during World War II.