About the Artist
I'm Karen Gadient, an artist and writer who comes from a family of artists and writers.
Like my parents, I'm drawn to traditional styles of art, but I also have a passion for technology and digital design. My mother painted with oils, and my father worked with watercolor and ink. Today, I paint with digital oils, watercolor, ink, pastel, and gouache. My brushstrokes may be on a tablet, but the finished work is still a 'painting' to me. A portrait done in digital oils can be printed on archival canvas — and, once framed, it's hard to tell the difference between my digital art and a conventional painting. Technology has a place in the art of today, and I'm proud to say I've embraced it.
I've been scribbling down stories for most of my life. A lot of these scribbles influence my artwork, and the artwork influences the writing too. I've always enjoyed telling stories with pictures. When I was younger, I'd read a book and then try to draw what I thought the characters or scenes might look like. I guess I haven't changed a lot since I was little — or perhaps I just really enjoy the company of my inner child.
As a fine artist trained in graphic design, I have hands-on knowledge of the printing process, color theory, and typography. I worked with technology before I concentrated on my artwork full time, so I'm ready for whatever a computer might throw at me — which keeps things working and my productivity up.
I'm an honors graduate in illustration and graphic design, but I'm not done learning. I enjoy the learning process, and continue to enhance my skills with the software and artistic techniques I already use. I've got an abundance of imagination and energy that's always (well, once I've had my coffee) ready for an adventure.
For information about workflow, commissions and hiring me for a project, please visit my 'services' section.