We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Karen Peck. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Karen below.

Karen, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I began my pastel journey by exploring the work of other artists. Their different styles and use of subject matter inspired me to search for my own. I joined patreon and followed lessons by other artists I watched you tube videos and took workshops. Spending time in front of my easel painting daily has definitely accelerated the learning process for me. I wish I had done more of that early on. Being able to experiment with different pastels and paper types is the best way to explore the medium and learn what can be done with color, line, value, shape and texture. The ability to carefully apply the pastel to the paper in subtle layers is essential. Often I feel as if I am my own obstacle. I tend to find ways to avoid the very thing I love to do. Then when I am immersed in painting I wonder what I was avoiding all along.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I have always loved being creative in one way or another. I started painting very young and attended art school to become an art teacher. As my career in art progressed I explored new and different medium and fell in love with pastels. The stick form of pure pigment allowed me to explore color and texture in a way that no brush had before. They were immediate and required no additional mixing materials allowing me to use them anywhere. When I retired two years ago we began traveling in Europe and across the United States. Taking my pastels and painting in such beautiful landscapes inspired me so much. I continued to paint daily. Many times my work was just for me, to experience my surroundings in a deeply personal way by interpreting it through my art. Often I am asked to paint a commission of a special place to fix a memory in time. I spend time with my clients trying to capture their feelings in pastel. Each painting is special , not only because it is unique, but because it is another step in my journey to both learn my craft and express my heart. I take joy in painting, it brings me peace and fills me up like nothing else. My hope is that each time someone views my work they come away feeling renewed and uplifted.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Early on in my journey it was difficult to mix business and art. My goal has always been to sell my work so that I can paint more, not to paint so that I can sell. I didn’t want my passion to paint to be driven by the outside world but to come from within. As I began placing work in stores there were a lot of demands on what I should paint, how big, what price point and how often I should replenish my work. It became very stressful and began to discourage me because I was no longer painting what I wanted I was painting for an audience. I had to decide if this was what I wanted, just to mass produce for others or did I want to truly experience the joy that came from painting for myself. I had to remove my work from public for a time and reset my goals and priorities. The money was not the goal, to paint was the goal and needed to continue to be the priority. This was scary because I had built up a following and I was concerned I would have to start again. It was a risk but in the end it was worth it. I was true to myself and because of that I found a deeper sense of meaning in my work. I am thrilled when someone really connects with an original painting and even if that isn’t very often, it means more than if I mass produce dozens of the same thing and sell them all. It isn’t about the money, it is about speaking with an artistic voice and being heard.

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

The most rewarding part of being an artist is that it is a gift I will always carry with me. It is not just something I do, it is who I am. I see life as a painting. I see beauty in the mundane. It allows me to slow down and observe and appreciate the world around me. Spending time painting is uplifting to my soul and soothing to my mind. In the words of Thomas Merton. “Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.” There is nothing like time in my studio emersed in a painting. It has saved me many times over.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Artsy_karenpeck
• Facebook: KarenPeckFineArt