Karen McManus is a watercolor artist who tries to capture the essence of the world around her, in ordinary subjects like a simple garden blossom or the exceptional light of a sunset’s afterglow. On occasion, oils are the medium of choice, but each day brings a new sky, vista, or cloud to challenge the artist. Her desire to paint and draw goes back to her earliest memories. Artistic expression has always been there and is a defining part of her inner spirit. Karen participated in art throughout her childhood and briefly studied at The Art Student’s League in New York City, and Maryland Institute College of Art.
It is the juxtaposition of light that inspires Karen’s realistic works. Each painting is an individual mental puzzle to be worked through. Combining realistic detail with the imagery created by color and light gives each painting a life of it’s own. Her miniatures offer a microscopic view of the wider vision surrounding us. Painting in Maine presents an ongoing drama of incredible landscapes and seascapes in just about any weather imaginable. Working from an antique cape in Acton, Maine, with views into adjoining New Hampshire, Karen is influenced by her surrounding gardens, long open views, and any small detail lying in wait to spark her interest and call her artistry to task. Karen’s paintings are in private collections throughout the United States as well as England, Ireland, Greece, and Israel.