Karen Warner pauses in her studio with an in-progress portrait.
Art: Explorations of the Soul
LaVerne Kyriss
Like many artists, Karen Warner has always been interested in art. She has always drawn, took some classes in high school and even took pottery in college. “I wanted to pursue an art career,” she smiled and said, “but life got in the way.” Putting her practical art skills to use, she worked as a graphic artist for a printer for eight years. After meeting her husband Rod and moving to Cincinnati, she even took some watercolor classes. “Nothing like starting with the most difficult,” she joked.
“I’ve also always loved working with textiles. In Cincinnati, I had a loom and wove large wall hangings for offices. I sold a number of pieces to dental offices,” Warner said. “Mostly I just really like to experiment and be creative. I still explore lots of approaches but I love working in oils.”
After her two children were in high school, Warner worked as a furniture buyer, using her artistic eye to choose various items that would work together. The couple ended their working careers in Carey, North Carolina. Their next decision was to find the perfect retirement location. “I loved the weather here and when we found SaddleBrooke, we knew this was the place,” Warner remembered. “I was always active. I played indoor soccer in high school, softball and tennis through the years and golfed. I even worked at the fitness center for nine years,” she said.
Today Warner swims with the SaddleBrooke Swim Team and walks for fitness. She explained, “Exercise is an essential part of my life and it contributes to my artwork. It calms me down and centers me.”
Once happily settled in, Warner found time to once again explore her creative side. She started taking classes offered by the SaddleBrooke Fine Arts Guild and has studied with numerous teachers. “I didn’t really get serious about art until after Rod died. Painting became my outlet. And over the years, my style has evolved,” she reflected. “I’ve always loved Native American culture and for a while I painted lots in that style. My portraits used to be very detailed and tightly controlled; very realistically portrayed. But I’m not sure they had a lot of depth of emotion or story. Today, I’m much looser and my work conveys more emotion and story.”
Warner credits her artistic growth to excellent teachers. “Instructor Manuel DeLeon once told me to stop painting pretty pictures. I didn’t get it at first. That was what I wanted to paint and I didn’t see anything wrong with that. He was trying to get me to tap into my inner creativity as an artist. Laurie Brussels really taught me how to draw the human figure and Titus (Castanza) really helped me to reach into my inner creativity. I still take a weekly class with him downtown,” she said.
“I love the support I get from the other artists in the Guild. Just being around creative people is so energizing,” Warner noted. “Artwork for me today is all about exploring my inner soul. I’m learning to let go and not be concerned about what others think.”