We recently connected with Karen Remsen and have shared our conversation below.

Karen, appreciate you joining us today. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

This question is particularly interesting to me because I came back to art at age 33. Growing up, I drew or painted almost every day and thought I wanted to become an artist. But I decided to pursue a different path in college. I worked as a graphic designer for a few years and then in the tech world for almost 10 years.

Sometimes I regret the years lost when I was not making art. I wonder if my work would be much better, or if my career would be much farther. At the same time, I had a lot more financial security launching an artistic career in my 30s. I now split my time between freelance work in tech and making art. Because of this, there isn’t a huge stress to sell my art to pay the bills. I can focus on making what I want to make and taking risks. So, I see it as both a blessing and a curse that I started my creative career later in life.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m a painter working in oil and mixed media. My style mixes photorealism, imaginative realism, and surrealism. The central theme of my work is female power and identity. When someone collects one of my pieces, I hope it serves as a little oasis of beauty and strength in their home.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

On a societal level, I’d like to see more public funding of art. That’s fairly straightforward; simply dedicating a larger percentage of city and state budgets to support creative endeavors.

On an individual level, the best thing someone can do to support me is to share my work with someone who might like it. Having the right person see your art at the right time can change the trajectory of your career.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

When I worked full-time in the tech and business world, my success was measured by criteria not of my own making. As a creative, you get to decide what is important and what success means to you. It’s a completely different way of thinking and very rewarding.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.karenremsenart.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karen_remsen_art/