Meet Karen Meadows | Artist, Mixed Media Workshop Teacher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Karen Meadows and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Karen, how do you think about risk?
My entire working life has been in the arts. I’m a risk taker, in that my work needs to feed my passion of creating. Currently, the process I use to make my paintings is all about risk. Even if I have a painting that has some pleasing areas, if the entire piece isn’t speaking to me, I will paint over it and let go. It feels risky and a little exciting to let go. I guess its been my motto my entire working life, to let go of what isn’t working to pursue my passion for art.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Every day I walk into my studio with joy and anticipation. This comes from years of working in the arts, in many capacities. I’ve never had a job that didn’t allow creative expression; when I majored in Art and Psychology in college, I never dreamed where my passion would take me. As a result of following my heart and working hard, I have had these experiences; A hand woven clothing business for 10 years, traveling the country selling my beautiful clothing, an Art Therapist in Napa State Hospital, Artist in Residence at SCRAP, San Francisco, creating large-scale art for public buildings, select artist for the Lausanne Biennial, head of our local school district art program teaching and developing curriculum.
At this point in my career, I am thrilled to have a beautiful studio in the historic ICB in Sausalito, where I am working and teaching workshops.
My excitement comes from either a breakthrough the day before, or a frustrating day that just created a big problem in paint! I think that solving problems is a constant in my life, it drives me to discover more about myself, and my pace in art history. I need constant surprises, so I never plan a piece, but work on 3-4 at a time, with a color palette I love. As I apply paint with various scrappers, rarely brushes, I let the process speak to me, so my content arrises from this internal discussion with what I love, and how the paint loves me back. I’ve learned to trust this process, so its about 70% intuitive, with 30% discernment in the later stages. I’m curious, frustrated, grateful, and motivated to make beautiful works that convey these feelings to viewers.
I’ve learned that commitment to daily work in and outside my studio is a life plan for me. Missing even a few days is a challenge I’ll need to overcome to trust my process as I step back in. I want my work to show that making art is like an archeological dig, into the heart of my nature, expressing all of the layers that make me the unique person that I am.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
First, we would visit ICB, my studio full of 150 amazing artists. I would take the ferry to San Francisco! Visit the Museum of Modern Art, De Young, and all of the galleries. We would picnic in Golden Gate park, walk on the beach. In Marin County, we would hike around Lake Lagunitas, Mt.

Tamalpais, swim at Stinson Beach.
After visiting art museums and galleries, the natural world is what feeds me.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I dedicate this to all of my students, and teachers, artist peers, and especially ICB Studios of Sausalito, where I do my work every day. My favorite artist books are by Anne Truitt. Her insights into the artist life, and that of a mother are especially meaningful to me.

Website: http://www.karenmeadows.com

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/karenmeadowsartist