Karen was born and raised in Chicago and Oak Park, Illinois and has had South Carolina in her life since 2001. She attended the University of Illinois where her independent Programs of Study in Art and Psychology gave her the opportunity to study ceramics. But, post-college work (as an Art Therapist, in Advertising, obtaining a M.A. in Counseling, and eventually 20 years in Management Consulting) and raising a family prevented her from playing in clay for over 30 years. On a whim in 2008, she took a pottery class in Savannah and, as it is said, “was like riding a bike”. Karen still takes classes at Savannah’s Clay Spot and also works at the Village Potters Studio in La Grange Park, Illinois during the summer. She took a soda fired class at Chicago’s Lill Street Studio but for the most part enjoys her own cone 6 studio newly built at her Bluffton home.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
I view the white stoneware clay object as a blank canvas waiting for its personality to emerge. In college, there was only glaze for the pot’s exterior, but have discovered surface design in my ceramics second act. While at times I do let the glaze tell the story, I love adding textured patterns and images through the use of stamps, silkscreens, paper stencils, high temp wire and decals. I am inspired by textile patterns and images from nature – especially ones with a low country feel. Most of my work is made on the potter’s wheel though I’ve been doing some handbuilding lately. I love using bright colors, pastel colors and soothing tones. It just depends on what story I think a certain pot is trying to tell. I enjoy making functional pieces and decorative accessories for the home and garden.
