Karen Smittle

Having spent the majority of my life in somewhat remote, isolated regions of the country, my work has been greatly influenced by the environment. Growing up on the South Texas coast, where the land is flat and nondescript, I was naturally drawn to the horizon. The sky always figured prominently in my work, but it wasn’t until a trip to the Southwest that I realized the metaphoric power of a dynamic sunset. It became my main focus, and has remained so for nearly twenty years, providing me an endless source of inspiration. Even in works in which the sky would not appear to be the primary component, I am acutely aware of the natural abstractions created by the effects of light and atmosphere on the landscape and try to depict the mood these elements evoke.

Of primary interest to me is color, light, and movement, the image being the vehicle for their study. Since the aspects of nature I depict are in a constant, and often very rapid, state of transition, I try to incorporate this transient, flowing quality in my work through a fluid use of the medium and multilayered evolution of the image. Technique and craftsmanship are of great importance to me, as I wish to draw the viewer in for a closer examination and, thus, a better understanding of both the work itself and the experience upon which it was based.

Through subjective realism I try to depict the ephemeral, abstract qualities of nature and the emotional, sometimes metaphorical, responses they can inspire.

EDUCATION

1978 B.A. Summa Cum Laude in Fine Arts - Corpus Christi State University ; Corpus Christi , Texas

Mary M. Packwood Scholarship for Fine Arts

Corpus Christi Art Community Scholarship

Board of Regents Scholarship

Federal Academic Grant

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

2004 “Celestial Southwest” with Jim La Paso

Jezebel Gallery - Santa Fe , New Mexico

2003 “Three Artists of Etheric Beauty” with Jackie Black and Collette Chamberlain

Jezebel Gallery - Santa Fe , New Mexico

2003 “Featured Artists - Karen Smittle and Charles McBride White”

Dragonfly Gallery - Atlanta , Georgia

2002 “Big Mix”

Hanson Gallery - Knoxville , Tennessee

2001 “Gallery Mix”

Hanson Gallery - Knoxville , Tennessee

2001 “Landscapes”

Hanson Gallery - Knoxville , Tennessee

1998 “Seventh Annual Missouri Top Fifty”

Juror: Elizabeth Sussman, Director of Curatorial Research, Whitney Museum of

American Art; New York , New York

Fine Arts Gallery - Sedalia , Missouri

1994-95 “Glass by Dick Burkhalter, Pastels by Karen Smittle”

Patio Azul Gallery - Sedona , Arizona

1992-93 “The Art of Pastel: Fourth Biennial National Exhibition and Museum Tour” (Illus. Catalog)

Museum of the Americas - New Orleans , Louisiana

Lauren Rogers Museum of Art - Laurel , Mississippi

Meadows Museum of Art - Shreveport , Louisiana

1992 “Contemporary Texas Landscapes”

Hill Country Arts Foundation Invitational Exhibition

Duncan-McAshan Visual Arts Center - Ingram , Texas

1992 “Mind and Spirit: New Landscapes” Jansen-Perez Galleries, Inc. - San Antonio , Texas

1992 “Essential Elements: Earth, Sky, Wood, Water” Spicewood Gallery - Austin, Texas

1991 “Target: South Texas /The World Outside” (Illus. Catalog)

Curated by Margaret Gillham - Curator, Art Museum of South Texas

Art Museum of South Texas - Corpus Christi , Texas

1991 “Merit Exhibition” Rockport Art Center - Rockport , Texas

1990 Rockport Art Association Exhibition - Merit Show Winner

Rockport Art Center - Rockport , Texas

1990 “Summer Images” Patrick Gallery - Austin , Texas

1989 “A New Voice: Abstract and Other Views” (Catalog) Rockport Art Center - Rockport , Texas

1989 “Women and Their Art-A Juried Exhibition in Celebration of International Women’s Day”

Jurors: Lin Nelson-Mayson, Curator - Art Museum of South Texas

Jerri Crabb, Art Director - Corpus Christi Museum

Mark Anderson, Art Professor - Corpus Christi State University

Galeria Chaparral - Corpus Christi , Texas

1988 “Fleeting Moments” Two-Person Exhibition with Charles McBride White

Galeria Chaparral - Corpus Christi , Texas

1988 “Visual Sensations”Curated by Andy Villarreal, San Antonio Artist and

Instructor Rockport Art Center - Rockport , Texas

1988 “New Work by Gallery Artists” Patrick Gallery - Austin , Texas

1988 “Landscapes” Partick Gallery - Austin , Texas

1987 “Works” Curated by Andy Villarreal, San Antonio Artist and Instructor

Rockport Art Center - Rockport , Texas

1987 “ Texas Artists” Image Gallery - Austin , Texas

1987 “Art Jam” Galeria Chaparral - Corpus Christi , Texas

1986 “3rd Annual National Exhibit for Pastels Only” (Illus. Catalog)

Juror: Flora Giffuni, President - Pastel Society of America Wichita , Kansas

1986 “Group Exhibition” Tynan Gallery - Houston , Texas

1986 “Spring” Aransas Bay Gallery - Fulton , Texas

1985 “Birds of a Feather” Artisans Gallery - Corpus Christi , Texas

1978 “Group Exhibition” Pan American University - Brownsville , Texas

COLLECTIONS and COMMISSIONS

Emboss Graphics; Naperville , Illinois

Offices of Dr. Eric Ingham; Knoxville , Tennessee

Louis Ballard, 3M Corporation; St. Louis , Missouri

American Airlines, Robert Mueller Airport ; Austin , Texas

Horizon Savings and Loan; Austin , Texas

Offices of Dr. Robert C. Cody; Corpus Christi , Texas

Whitley and Anne Streiber; New York , New York

Water Street Market; Corpus Christi , Texas

Ship Ahoy! Restaurant; Corpus Christi , Texas

Memorial Funeral Home; Corpus Christi , Texas

Dr. Nancy Heersen; Austin , Texas

Becky and Scott Felder; Austin , Texas

BIBLIOGRAPHY

“Jezebel Gallery: Romance with Nature.” GuestLife New Mexico . 2004/2005 Hardbook Annual

Edition. Cover Art and pp. 24a-25a.

“Jezebel Gallery.” New Mexico Culture & Cuisine. 2004/2005, pp. 24a-25a.

Nott, Robert. “Gallery Wise: Jezebel.” The Santa Fe New Mexican. 2 January 2004 , “Pasatiempo,” p. 10.

Adrian, Kay. “A Singular Vision: Spicewood Gallery.” Austin ! The Capitol Magazine of Texas . Sept./Oct. 1992, pp.14-16.

Goddard, Dan R. “Artists capture South Texas sky’s beauty in their paintings.”

San Antonio Express News, 21 March 1992 .

Steward, Charles. “Local, changing skies inspire Smittle pastels.” Rockport Pilot,

13 July 1991 , sec. A, pp. 4,8.

Rote, Carey. “Works by South Texans explore ‘World Outside’.” Corpus Christi Caller-Times, 3 May 1991, sec. F, p. 17.

Mortensen, Eleanor. “People & Places.” Corpus Christi Caller-Times, 24 March 1991 , sec. D, p. 2.

“Take a Look.” Coastline Magazine, 21 March 1991 , p. 23.

Pickering, David. “Art exhibit looks into the outside.” Corpus Christi Caller-Times, 15 March 1991 , sec. F, p. 10.

Pickering, David. “Exhibit is rich in women and their art.” Corpus Christi Caller-Times, 19 March 1989 , sec. D, pp. 9-10.

Merry, Bejou. “ Patrick Gallery .” Austin Chronicle, 8 April 1988 , p. 54.

Schmidt, Maurice. “Fleeting Moments.” Corpus Christi Caller-Times. 21 February 1988 , sec. H, p.5.

“Karen Smittle work is on display at Galeria Chaparral.” Corpus Christi Caller-Times, 12 February 1988, “Weekend Magazine,” p. 1.

“Fleeting Moments’ is title of Galeria Chaparral exhibit.” Corpus Christi Caller-Times, 29 January 1988, “Weekend Magazine,” p. 3.