Karen Chadwick
Florida native Karen Chadwick spent much of her childhood exploring the woods and waterways around her home and her grandmother’s neighborhood in Sarasota. After deciding to pursue the arts, she earned a BFA in sculpture and painting from the Ringling School of Art and Design in 1988. Her sculptures, drawings, and paintings have been exhibited throughout the state, including in Jacksonville, Tampa, Ft. Myers, Sarasota, Gainesville, and Ocala.
Over the years, Karen has collaborated with environmental education centers to create interpretive exhibits focused on paleontology, archaeology, geology, hydrology, and the relationships among local flora and fauna.
Karen’s studio is located in the north-central region of Florida.
Artist Statement
My mother was an artist in her own right. She encouraged me to be creative in any endeavor I pursued. Art supplies were available to me at a young age and I was allowed to experiment with the various mediums she had on hand.
My aunt was a teacher on military bases in Italy and Germany. She sent publications from the museums and galleries she visited. I poured through them marveling at the ancient sculptures, mosaics and paintings. She gave me my first book, “Nature: An Introduction to our World”, at 5 years old when I was in the hospital after surgery. It included illustrations of children my age exploring the great outdoors, learning about flora and fauna. That encouraged me to learn more about the enchanting natural systems we depend on for our very survival.
My life has been an exercise in learning, sharing and illustrating the wonders of nature, through various media and techniques.