Karen Wolf
original art & colorful jewelry

                                      Artist Statement 
                                           
      I like to paint a wide variety of subject matter in both  representational & abstract styles. Inspiration for my work most often comes from images having strong contrasts in value, color or texture. Exploring different ideas, media & techniques that lead to new expressions through art is my aim.


                                      Artist Bio & Resume

      I have been expressing myself through art since early childhood. I am told that one of my earliest works was a much unappreciated lipstick mural on the wall at the age of two. After the mural I was encouraged to use crayons, finger paints & pencils on paper. My grandmother introduced me to oil painting with a starter set when I was twelve. Throughout my life I have experimented with soft & oil pastels, pen & ink, colored pencils, collage & watercolors. I took regular & extra art classes throughout my school years. I attended various watercolor, acrylic & portrait classes from several artists both locally & nationally known. My most recent work is in acrylics. At times I combine the acrylics with one or more of the other media mentioned.

         In the past few years I have begun silver smithing classes. I have been designing & creating jewelry with silver, gemstones, vintage & artist made glass beads, incorporating my artwork into some of the pieces. I am also using a material called precious metal clay to sculpt one of a kind jewelry pieces. Precious metal clay is a clay with silver ( or gold ) particles suspended in an organic binder that burns off during a firing process resulting in a solid piece of  100% fine silver ( or gold ).

                                      Exhibits & Art Shows       

   2000   July-August    Reading Museum Berks Art Alliance
                                    Juried Show
   2001   July-August    Reading Museum Berks Art Alliance
                                    Juried Show
   2007   July-August    Reading Museum Berks Art Alliance
                                    Juried Show - 2 purchase awards
   2008   February        Immaculata College Juried Art Show
   2008   April              Lebanon Valley College Juried Art 
                                    Show

                                      Current Series

          My  recent works are in acrylic sometimes combined with some collage. Most of these are part of my " Soul Series". The paintings are expressions in abstract of what the Soul means to me & what I feel it provides. I continue to paint other subjects in different materials, but at this time I paint more in acrylic than any other media.