Karen Boone, a natural artist
I am a nature lover and backpacker creating sustainable art from earth materials. I have backpacked in Patagonia Chile, Costa Rica, the Grand Canyon, John Muir Trail in the Sierra Nevada, Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, Glacier National Park, Utah, Peru, Canadian Rockies, The Cascades, Switzerland and many others. I make sketches in the field, then creates larger pieces in the studio, focusing on nature’s powerful colors and energy. I forage for small pieces of clay and charred wood, dry and crush them with a pestle and mortar to mix with walnut oil. I stretch my canvases using organic cotton and plant-based gesso (no rabbitskin or horse hooves). For sculpture I use cardboard which I cut, sculpt, gesso and use earth pigments to paint bark-like textures. I also sculpt natural air-dry clay and paint with natural pigments and walnut oil.
Although self taught as a painter, I have my masters degree from the Basel School of Design Switzerland, and worked as a graphic designer for Pentagram Design NY and San Francisco, and for PAOS in Tokyo Japan. I am a 3-time Kentucky Derby Festival Poster artist, and currently live on a peaceful little farm in Borden Indiana with husband Rick Runyon, my partner in adventure.
Recent Juried Shows and Exhibitions:
2023 Taking Shape: Abstraction To Figuration curated by Jackie Gendel and featured on Artsy.net
2023 The Space Between, curated by Michael Shemchuk and featured on Artsy.net https://www.artsy.net/show/artist-alliance-the-space-between?sort=partner_show_position&metric=in
2022 Earthen – solo exhibit of paintings and sculptures, Mary Anderson Center Gallery, Mount Saint Francis Center for Spirituality https://www.facebook.com/events/1029736964374487?ref=newsfeed
2022 Mother Nature, juror Jen Tough, and featured on Artsy, https://www.artsy.net/show/artist-alliance-mother-nature?sort=partner_show_position&metric=in
and on square space, https://artistalliance.space/exhibitions/mothernature
2022 Choice, juried show featured on Artsy, https://www.artsy.net/show/artist-alliance-choicesort=partner_show_position&metric=in
2022 Dreams, a Juried show featured on Artsy, https://www.artsy.net/show/artist-alliance-dreams?sort=partner_show_position
2022: Assembly Required juror Jen Tough, Jen Tough Gallery https://artistalliance.space/exhibitions/assembly-required
2022: Works on Paper juried by Kerry Downey https://artistalliance.space/exhibitions/worksonpaper?fbclid=IwAR33dkfOO6gudJtPx9tCM_0ASLMHvZwvmzdP2FQJ1H7i7ytXYTVOYItPNLE
2021: Imaginary Travels juried show, juror John Yoyogi Fortes
https://artistalliance.space/exhibitions/imaginary-travel
2021: Art In Speed Park juried show, Indiana
2020: Multiplicity juried show, triptych, juror Diane Williams
https://artistalliance.space/exhibitions/multiplicity-challenge
2020: Flora-Fauna juried show Curator: Melissa Mohammadi
https://artistalliance.space/exhibitions/flora-fauna-challenge
2020: Natural Worlds, juror Michael Shemchuk
https://artistalliance.space/exhibitions/natural-worlds
2020: Home 4 pieces juried in Garfield Park Arts Center, Indianapolis
2020: https://naturalearthpaint.com/blog/interview-with-karen-boone-painting-with-the-mountains/
2019: American Red Cross commissioned painting for their corporate collection
2018: Solo show at the George at 42, Louisville’s most prestigious zip code.
2018: Invited to Pine Mountain artist retreat, member of the Pine Mountain Collective in Appalachia.
2018: Abstracts Online Exhibition Special Recognition out of 952 entries from 29 different countries and 40 states. https://www.lightspacetime.art/abstracts-2018-art-exhibition-painting-other-media-category/
2018: LVA artist vignette http://www.louisvillevisualart.org/artebella/2018/1/18/vignette-karen-boone
2015: International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA) Silver Award: Best Commemorative Poster, Official KY Derby Festival Poster. Bronze Award: Best Commemorative Poster, Limited Edition Poster.
2015, 1999 and 1996: 3-time Kentucky Derby Festival Poster Artist
Work Experience/Education:
Karen Boone Design, graphic design/fine art since 1992
PAOS: Tokyo, Japan, Graphic designer 1990-1991
Pentagram Design, New York (junior designer for Peter Harrison) and San Francisco (senior designer for Kit Heinrichs) 1984-1989
BRS Amsterdam, Netherlands, design intern
Basel School of Design, Switzerland Masters
University of Louisville BA 1982
Sacred Heart Academy 1979
Graphic Design
