Meet Karla Gudeon | Artist

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

Hi Karla, how do you think about risk?
You won’t ever catch me mountain climbing, sky-diving, bungie jumping, or even walking alone in the woods after dark. I am the person that will trip over nothing and find myself laid out flat, scraped up and laughing on the ground. So I do my best not to put myself in any unnecessary peril. However, even with my aversion to physical danger, I still consider myself a risk-taker. For me, there’s a big difference between thrill-seeking and risk taking.  Compared to thrill seeking, risk taking is…well….riskier. 
I wouldn’t have my career at all if I hadn’t stepped into the unknown.   I left my comfortable, reliable, day job as a public elementary school teacher, a job that offered job security, benefits and a retirement plan,…to pursue a passion and a dream. When I left teaching, I didn’t really understand the 24/7 nature of culling a career from selling art and running my own business. That’s probably a very good thing. The decision I made to navigate my way without a compass, has allowed me to live life as an artist. If I had had a full road-map guide to what I was in for, I might have stayed where I was,  instead of shooting for the career I have built, which now  makes me who I am and makes me whole.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I have adapted techniques that are centuries old to create modern images. I used hand made papers, a big beautiful printing press (my third child), intensely pigmented watercolors and gold illumination to craft images that simultaneously evoke the past and the present. Each work is an amalgamation of printmaking and original meticulous watercolor painting. 

My influences are truly a motley crew: East Indian folk art, Persian miniatures, visionary art (outsider art), textiles, painter Kehinde Wiley and printmaker Leonard Baskin.  I draw on themes that are meant to bring beauty, calm, joy and humor into people’s homes. One work is entitled “Tree of Life” which depicts the beauty of the word despite the twists and turns of life, while another, entitled “Lady Parts” depicts an orchid with its suggestive appearance and a nod to Georgia O’Keefe. 

Inclusivity is at the heart of my design philosophy. I take pride in creating imagery that resonates universally across all ages, cultures, races, and genders. When designing, I focus on common threads and shared human experiences, centering on ideas that connect with people from every walk of life. With a price range from $11 to over $3500, I also try to be inclusive of a medley of gift giving events. 

The “Little Ones” collection features paintings that encompass nearly every conceivable life event or experience, from weddings and births to milestones, family, friendship, strong women, humor, human sexuality, divorce, Judaica, healing, hope, gratitude, and beyond. It’s a strange mix of themes, but it works.  ” I Do” with it’s loving little birds may be perfect for some friends, while “It’s Over” with the fat lady hippo singing, may be the perfect gift for other happily divorcing friends.
 
I’m not at all shy about sharing all sides of myself and this is reflected in my visual choices. I’ve realized I won’t be successful if I design what I think will sell. I design what I need in my own world, and design what I need to say. I’ve realized my customers will then find my art relatable and see pieces of themselves within the work.

My younger customers appreciate that I have affordable original art “starter pieces.” My peers often share personal stories that explain why my artwork “speaks to them” on a deep level. Older customers have told me that while they’ve down-sized, keeping my artwork in their smaller homes was a non-negotiable. I feel moved and honored to have my pieces become a part of my customers’ lives and collections.

I am proud to be celebrating over 25 years as the boss of me.  All designing, printmaking, and painting take place in my Long Island, New York studio, where my assistants and I enjoy a highly creative and empowering work environment.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I can tell you what my friend and I would on our home turfs (Hawaii/New York). Since we live long distance, so we tend to hang out for concentrated periods of time throughout the year in each other’s cities. A sample agenda in our respective locales looks something like this…
• Total re-organization of each other’s homes –  purging and redecorating
• Thrifting,  because now there’s space; don’t judge me.
• Road trip up the East Coast – Driving to the city to see Allison Russell, Maine to see Lake Street Dive and staying at  a cheap “murder” hotel on the way.  Culminating with picking up my 89 year old Dad to go to the original Woodstock site in Bethel Woods to see 90 year old Willie Nelson.
• Gathering with our group of friends that go back all the way to our childhoods at sleep-away camp. 
• In Honolulu, we eat Burmese food at Dagon’s or  Dim Sum in Chinatown and we’ll go to the Big Island to see the lava glowing in the volcano’s crater under the stars. 

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
It’s all about my girls! From friends and family who pushed me to pursue my passion as an artist, to those who stood by me during tough times, to the amazing women at the KGA&D studio who bring joy, productivity, and creative energy, and to the female small business owners in my creative network, each one inspires me. 
As a studio owner, I want the women on my team to know how integral they are to our success. Their input is valued, respected, and essential. These women are the best at finding humor in almost everything, supporting each other, recognizing and showcasing beauty, and making the impossible happen under pressure. I hope they always know how much I appreciate them and that I couldn’t do what I do without them.
A special shoutout to:
• Megan: 2nd Head Honcho, Over 20 years in the Studio, she does it all!
• Lea: The Gatekeeper/order manager – First and last eyes on each piece
• Cait: Printmaker/Social Media & Website Coordinator
• Rebeca: Framer and fabricator
• Julia: Freelance consultant
• Monica: Website Design/Marketing
• Eva: Studio Runner and Sales Coordinator
• Alexa: Breath of fresh air.
You all are the heartbeat of this place, and I’m so grateful for each of you.

Website: http://www.karlagudeon.com

Instagram: @karlagudeon

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarlaGudeon

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/karlagudeon

Image Credits
n/a