Artist Biography: Karen Standridge
www.karenstandridge.com
Colorado Springs, CO
Karenstandridge2001@yahoo.com
719.201.8442

Karen cannot remember a time when she didn’t paint or draw. Her earliest heroes in art were the Impressionists, and as she matured both as a person and an artist, she added August Macke of the German Expressionist School, Winslow Homer, Matisse, Mondrian, and Edward Seago to her growing list of influences. Before retiring from college teaching to paint full time, Karen had the good fortune to teach in Europe and South America. Consequently, her watercolors, oils, and acrylics are often inspired by scenes she enjoyed while traveling and working in such countries as Germany, Argentina, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Austria, France, and Mexico. The southwest landscape also inspires her, and her paintings often reflect her love of nature’s beauty in Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. She has studied with some great painters: Zoltan Szabo, Judi Wagner, Diane Maxey, Alvaro Castegnat, Ron Ranson, Frank Francese, Tom Owen, Gwen Fox, Jean Grastorf, Frank Webb, and Herman Raymond. Her work is also exhibited all over the U.S., Europe, and South America in private collections and competitions. ARATI ARTISTS GALLERY, 2425 West Colorado Ave. and LASKO FINE ART, 113 N. Tejon Street in Colorado Springs, Colorado have her works permanently exhibited. Also see work on her website: www.KarenStandridge.com. Karen currently teaches watercolor painting on the Cunard Lines’ Queen Mary II and Queen Victoria II Oceanliners.

Artist’s Philosophy

“Dreams come true; without that possibility, nature would not incite us to have them.” (John Updike) I am so lucky to be living my dream, making art everyday and meeting wonderful people who share my passion for life, love, and nature. "

EXHIBITION & AWARD History

• April 2008 Northwest Watercolor Society Purchase Award – The 68th Annual Open Exhibition
• May 2008 Southern Colorado Watercolor Juried Show: “Aquarius”
• 2008 Colorado Watercolor Society Exhibition – Denver
• Oct-Jan 2008-09 Mississippi Watercolor Society Grand National Water- Color Exhibition
• Dec-Jan 2008-09 Kansas Eight National Watercolor Exhibition
• April 2007 BEST OF SHOW AWARD Colorado Springs Art Guild Woodmen Valley Show
• June-Aug 2007 International Watermedia XV – Pikes Peak Watercolor Society’s Juried Show and Sale
• Sept 2007 HONORABLE MENTION – Colorado Springs Art Guild’s “Autumn Gems”
• Sept-Oct 2007 The 22nd Watercolor Wyoming National Exhibition
• Oct-Nov 2007 “The Best and Brightest” Juried Show & Sale, Scottsdale, Arizona
• Nov-Dec 2006 Colorado Springs Art Guild’s Art of the Winter Solstice 2005” Business of Art Center
• September 2006 First Place and BEST OF SHOW – Pueblo Art Guild, Colorado
• August 2006 Colorado State Fair – Two paintings exhibited
• August 2006 “The Other Side of the Peak” – Juried Show at Business of Art Center, Co Springs – Two paintings
• July 2006 Montana Watercolor Society’s 24th Annual Watermedia 2006
• June 2006 Honorable Mention – Colorado Springs Art Guild- Woodmen Valley Chapel Show
• May 2006 El Dorado Gallery’s Miniature Show – Colorado
• April 2006 Second Prize AND Honorable Mention Colorado Springs Art Guild- Cottonwood Juried Art Show
• March 2006 American Juried Art Salon www.Artjury.com
• Feb 2006 “Second Place” Colorado Springs Art Guild
• Dec 2005 Pikes Peak Watercolor Members’ Show at Pike Peak Center , Colorado Springs, CO
• Nov 2005 “Honorable Mention” Tri-Lakes Western Show
• Aug 2005 Pikes Peak International Watermedia Show
• May 2005 “Second Place” Colorado Spring Art Guild
• Jan-May 2005 Colorado Springs Art Guild Show at Bear Creek
• April 2005 Business of Art Center Exhibit – sold painting
• August 2004 “Artists for Elders” Art Show - Cottonwood Artists’ Gallery, Colorado Springs
• October 2004 “Imagination Flex 2004” – An exhibition of fine art by Colorado Springs Art Guild
• June 2004 “Tri-Lakes Views” Annual show and sale, Palmer Lake, CO
• May 2004 Colorado Springs Art Guild Regional 2004
• December 2004 “Winter Celebrations” Tri-Lakes Center for the Arts, Palmer Lake, CO
• January 2004 “Seasonal Changes” Multimedia Fine Arts Exhibit, Colorado Springs, CO
• Summer 2003 “HONORABLE MENTION” El Dorado Fine Arts Gallery Miniature Show, Colorado Springs, CO
• 2003 “Honorable Mention” Watercolor Missouri National Winston Churchill Memorial and Library
• March 2002 “Seeds of Change” Exhibition at Business of Art Center, Manitou Springs, CO
• June 2002 “Fertile Ground” Exhibition at Business of Art Center, Manitou Springs, CO
• Various Shows and Sales from 1999 – present

Permanent Collections/Sales

Fratelli Italian Ristorante and Gallery, 124 North Nevada, COS
Ascent Surgery Center – Dr. Greg Liebscher – Colorado Springs

Gallery Representation

Arati Artists’ Gallery, 2425 West Colorado, COS
Business of Art Center, 513 Manitou Ave., Manitou Springs, CO

Collections

Homes and Businesses in the U.S., Germany and South America
Mr. Bob Couchman, Colorado Springs
Mr. and Dr. Lois Kline, Colorado Springs
Ms. Robbin Ward, San Clemente, California
Mr. and Mrs. Stan Goldberg, Colorado Springs, CO
Mr. and Mrs. Larry Bullock, Ft. Worth, Texas
Mr. & Mrs. Jens Buckholtz, Gotha, Germany

Education and Advanced Art Instruction
Studio Art & Art History at University of Tulsa – BS Degree
Masters Degree in Literature – University of Central Oklahoma
Ph.D. in Literature – University of Denver, Colorado

• 2002 – Studied Watercolor with Zoltan Szabo
• 2003- Studied Watercolor with Diane Maxey
• 2004- Studied Watercolor with Judi Wagner
• 2005 – Studied Watercolor with Tom Owen
• 2005- Studied Watercolor with Alvaro Casaegnet
• 2005- Studied Watercolor with Frank Francese
• 2006 – Studied Watercolor with Ron Ranson
• 2007 – Studied Watercolor with Frank Webb
• On-going studio study in oils – Herman Raymond

Professional Organization Memberships

Business of Art Center, 513 Manitou Avenue, Manitou Springs, CO
Pikes Peak Watercolor Society – Signature Member
Wyoming Watercolor Society
Mississippi Watercolor Soceity
Colorado Springs Art Guild, P.O.Box 1304, COS 80901-1304
Cottonwood Artists’ School, 25 Cimino Drive, COS 80903
TriLakes Center for the Arts, P.O.Box 2564, Monument, CO 80132