Of Boats and Barns
On display in the hallway gallery of Central Bank of Boone County
March 24 - May 3
Of Boats and Barns
The tug and pull of the human spirit is one of boats and barns.
Explorers, traders, pilgrims, immigrants, and scientists throughout the centuries have embarked into the unknown to discover new horizons. We may not be nautical pioneers seeking to discover uncharted vistas, but within our own lives, we are all seeking and daily venturing into our unknown future.
At the same time, our hearts are yearning for gathering, stability, connection, and belonging. One of the innate yearnings of the human soul is a desire to find a secure space in this world where we love and are loved. Barns are a symbol of refuge from life’s storms.
To seek and explore or to gather and stay—as humans, we crave both. We need both. Adventure drives and molds us, and belonging grounds us. When we allow these desires to work in tandem rather than as opposing forces, we find that our life voyage is ever leading our vessel toward that place of anchoring that we seek, to that feeling and destination that we each call home.
Artist Statement
I love to paint and paint to love. My love of the creative process inspires me to pick up a brush, and my outcomes are an expression of the people, places, and things that matter to me. Painting is a means for me to reflect my awe and gratitude to God for the majesty of all His creations.
In my work, I seek to portray light and render the truth and spirit of my subject. It’s a humbling undertaking. I straddle the spheres of realism and impressionism—painting things as they really are, yet inviting the viewer to engage in the creative process to finish telling the story I’ve begun. I hope to inspire and lift others through adding beauty to the world. Ultimately, my highest aim would be for someone to stand before my work and be moved emotionally and spiritually by it—for them to feel joy, peace, and a greater sense of God’s love.
Artist Bio
Karen is the mother of five incredible children and wife to her one true love, Brady. She discovered her affinity for oil painting during the COVID-19 Pandemic and is self-taught. She feels grateful every day for the opportunity to create and is a firm believer that with desire and effort, anyone can become an artist.
