Karen Irving is a Canadian artist residing in Vancouver, British Columbia. She is a selt-taught artist specializing in abstract (non-objective images) as her art form. Originally, trained and educated as a project manager and software trainer, Kare...More
Karen Irving is a Canadian artist residing in Vancouver, British Columbia. She is a selt-taught artist specializing in abstract (non-objective images) as her art form. Originally, trained and educated as a project manager and software trainer, Karen spent the greater part of her career in the Healthcare and technology field. While she dabbled in some small art projects as a hobby, she had never contemplated becoming an artist. However, when a life changing event triggered hospitalization, Karen was forced to confront the resulting life changes. At the encouragement of caregivers, physicians, mentors and friends, Karen begun a journeyof self-exploration through art, drawing from her insights of trauma and disability, to express her thoughts and feelings on canvas. Karen draws inspiration from her lifelong experience, including her early expeiences and travel adventures from Canada's East Coast of Nova Scotio to Vancouver's scenic West Coast to the vibrant Caribbean. Her greatest inspiration and color pallette is influenced by her early travels in the Carribben while working as a Chief purser on a cruise ship. She uses these vibrant colors as a foundation for her work, balancing shape and texture to express the sensations she feels, to create a visual landscape of her thoughts and emotions. She loves to explore the interplay of elements to combine shapes, lines, color tones and textures to create a visual relationship that transcends emotion. Karen's art has evolved over the years through continous learning, education, attending workshop and learning from great mentors around her. Her art work continues to deepen as she she delves further into personal reflections and continues to explore the world around her and the emotions she feels. Karen believes that much of her artwork parallels her thoughts, feelings and life experience and believes that the true beauty of art lies in the imperfections of life. She is actively involved in the Vancouver Art scene and volunteers for local events to support artist. She is an active member of the Gallery Gachet (www.gachet.org)
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The Arts in Society
