Karolyn Alexander Artist Statement
I have developed a passion for painting with watercolors! Painting in watercolor is exciting! I love to watch the color move and mix on the paper in a wet into wet application! I enjoy watching a color change as another is glazed over it. I love the versatility and variety of styles and techniques that can be used. I love the challenge and yes, I even love the problem solving that is sometimes required to bring a painting to completion.
Painting landscapes (sometimes in a semi-abstract manner), florals, abstracts and still lifes brings me joy. I draw inspiration from everything I see, from springtime flowers in my own backyard to the many beautiful places I have visited in Wisconsin and elsewhere. When I paint, I strive to express my excitement for a subject and will give up a realistic rendering in favor of more vibrant color, loose interpretive brushstrokes or a more interesting design. I often start a painting without any type of reference and draw upon a memory or an emotion from within.
Although my formal fine arts education at UW-Whitewater was interrupted by marriage, family and employment responsibilities, throughout the years I continued to make plain surfaces more colorful and experimented with pastels, oils, acrylics, colored pencil, markers, and ceramics.
My recent involvement in watercolors began after taking early retirement from UW-Whitewater. After 10 years of working in clay I was reintroduced to watercolor in 2003 when I started attending weekly classes with the late Marilyn Keating at LAtelier in Janesville, WI. I have also had the good fortune of being able to attend workshops with several very talented artists including Kari Anderson, Bridget Austin, Ratindra Das, Tom Francesconi, Connie Glowacki, Karlyn Holman, and Karen Knutson. I continue to attend an occasional workshop and consider painting in watercolor a life long learning experience.
L'Atelier Art Studio in Janesville has given me the opportunity to share my watercolor knowledge and experiences with other artists. We meet on most Tuesday afternoon for a few hours of painting, critique, and friendship. On Thursday afternoons at the Starin Park Community Center another group of artists meets for watercolor painting. I provide instruction, demonstrations and optional critique. This program is coordinated by the Seniors in the Park program. For more information about the Tuesday or Thursday painting sessions, please send me email at karolynalexander@att.net.
I reside in Whitewater, WI where I have a home studio with a small gallery space. I enjoy traveling with my husband and spending time with children and grandchildren.
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Phone:
262-473-6789 |
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Email: karolynalexander@att.net |
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Website:
www.karolyn.biz |
Memberships:
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Wisconsin
Visual Artists - Formerly Wisconsin
Painters & Sculptors |
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Watercolor Society of America |
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Upcoming:
| June 2013, Visionary Artists Group Show at the Hoard Historical Center, Fort Atkinson, WI. Exhibit: "Visions: A-Z". From artichokes to zebras, five artists interpret each letter of the alphabet to create an exhibit of over 130 pieces of original art. |
Exhibits:
| Nov - Dec 2012 - Whitewater Arts Alliance Member Show at Whitewater Cultural Arts Center |
| Nov - Dec 2012 - Janesville Art League Member Holiday Show at JPAC in Janesville. |
| Sept. 2012 - Lake Mills Art Center, Lake Mills WI - Faculty & Student Exhibit |
| Rock River Gallery - 205 S. Main St., Jefferson, WI - Regular exhibitor |
| Sept 17th - Oct 14th, 2011 Visions of Wisconsin Art Show - Hoard Museum, Fort Atkinson, WI |
| Nov - Dec 2010 - L'Atelier Artists "Grapes and Leaves" exhibit at Staller Winery. |
| Sept - Oct 2010 - Visionary Artists "Visions of Wisconsin-A Preview" at the SweetSpot Gallery in Whitewater, WI |
| Solo Show - June 2010 - Monroe Arts Center-Frehner Gallery in Monroe, WI |
| Hardy Gallery Artistic Member Juried Show - August/Sept. 2009 |
| Artisan Locale Gift Gallery, 6 S. Main St., Janesville WI - On-going |
| Hardy Gallery Artistic Member Show - August-Sept 2009 - Ephraim, WI |
| WVA SE Chapter Juried Show - Sharon Lynn Wilson Art Center, Brookfield WI -June 2009 |
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May
2010 Feb 2011, Miniature Fine Art Show, Paint Box Gallery, Ephraim, WI |
| WI Biennial Juried Show - Rahr-West Art Museum- Manitowoc, WI - May 2009 |
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May
2009 Feb 2010, Miniature Fine Art Show, Paint Box Gallery, Ephraim, WI |
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May/June 2009 - Visionary Artists Group Show, SweetSpot Gallery, Whitewater, WI |
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Uihlein/Peters Gallery, Milwaukee - Miniature Fine Art Show - April/May 2009 |
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Bradley Gallery/Lakeland College Juried Show - March 2009 |
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Janesville Country Club - Group Show - March-April 2009 |
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Bradley Gallery (Spring Willow Gallery) in Stoughton, WI - Feb 2009-August 2010 |
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Juried Miniature Show - Cedarburg Cultural Center - Feb-March 2009 |
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Solo Show at First Citizens Gallery, September-October 2008 in Whitewater, WI |
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July 2008- WI Painters and Sculptors Juried Show - Kenosha, WI |
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May
2008 Feb 2009, Miniature Fine Art Show, Paint Box Gallery, Ephraim, WI |
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May-June 2008/2009- Hardy Gallery Juried Show - Door County, WI |
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January 2008 - Winter Salon at Peninsula Art School, Fish Creek, WI |
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December 2007 - Viewer's Choice Award, Whitewater Cultural Arts Center Grand Opening Art Show, Whitewater, WI |
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November-December 2007-2011 Janesville Art League Art Show & Sale, Janesville Performing Art Center, Janesville WI |
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Solo show at Whitewater Public Library in August 2007, Whitewater, WI |
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Solo show at Hedberg Public Library in July 2007, Janesville, WI |
| May-June 2007- Hardy Gallery Juried Show - Door County, WI |
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May 2007 Feb 2008, Miniature Art Show, Paint Box Gallery, Ephraim, WI |
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April
2007, 2008 & 2009, UW-Rock County Foundation Art Show and Sale, Janesville, WI |
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September
2006 Janesville Country Club (Group Show), Janesville, WI |
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August
September 2006 Hoard Art Museum (Group Show) Fort Atkinson, WI |
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June
2006 - D3 Gallery, Double Dip Deli (3 Person Show), Whitewater,
WI |
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March
2006 Center Gallery, UW-Whitewater (Group Show), Whitewater, WI |
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February
2006 West High School Colucci Gallery (WAAC Member Show), Madison, WI |
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January
and February 2006 - D3 Gallery, Double Dip Deli (Group Show),
Whitewater, WI |
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January
2005 through present - quarterly exhibits of Janesville Art League artists
at Janesville Performing Arts Center |
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December
2004 & 2005 & 2006 West Bend Art Museum Holiday Show and Sale,
West Bend, WI |
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February
2005 D3 Gallery, Double Dip Deli (3 Person Show), Whitewater,
WI |
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Fall
2004 Janesville Country Club (Group Show), Janesville, WI |
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August
2004 Hedberg Public Library (Group Show), Janesville, WI |
Contact Karolyn: karolynalexander@att.net