Karen Rose – Bio
I spent my teenage years growing up in Greenport, Long Island where I lived with my sister and father who was an amazing artist. Trying to live off the sales of his paintings was not an easy life, but he was a wealth of knowledge when it came to art and taught me so much through the years. Looking back I now realize how much I learned from those countless lectures and so appreciate what I only tolerated then.
I first attended SUNY Farmingdale in NY with my focus being Advertising Art and Design where I took a well-rounded smattering of art courses. I then transferred to RIT in Rochester, NY and majored in Communication Design, which relied heavily on graphics. This never came naturally to me, nor was my heart in it and I switched my major to Fine Arts, working mainly in watercolor. Looking back, I realize that besides not having ample time to explore painting, I never really challenged myself or stepped out of my comfort zone enough. Nevertheless, it was there that I wrapped up my academic career.
After graduation I did what many art majors do and waitressed for several years. Shortly afterward I married my husband, a commercial fisherman and moved to Cape May NJ. For the next decade or so, my artwork-with the exception of making Ukrainian Eggs- was put on hold, as we went on to raise three daughters (all of whom, I'm proud to say, are very artistic!).
In 1996, I was invited to join the St. Barnabas Art Group under the direction of Father William Shelton and although I'd never even attempted oil painting, I felt honored to join them. They have both since passed away, but when I am frustrated and struggling through a painting I can still hear my father's and Father Shelton's words of advice ringing in my ears, pointing me in the right direction.