Statement: KAREN WATKINS has been drawing and making art since she could remember. She has always loved the look of animated movies and television shows and also the work of Jim Henson, Don Bluth, and Tim Burton when she was growing up. Her subject matter is diverse with animals, woodland themes, pop surrealism, unreal creatures, and landscapes. After living most of her life in the Midwest (originally Indiana) and now living in the middle of the mountains of Colorado she is also greatly inspired by the diverse nature of the Rockies and the woods of the Midwest she grew up in.
After studying illustration and graphic arts in college she worked as a illustrator, but found a great love of selling and making her own work. Watkins’ pop surrealism paintings use narrative, symbolism, and dreamlike imagery to express themes in her life and of her audience. Watkins has also always been fascinated with animals, weird creatures, and nature (especially forests) and all their strange and sometimes spooky mysteries.
Watkins continues to create her own world with her acrylic paintings and felt creations.