Florida Artists Group

Karlene's Bio:

Karlene McConnell was born in Pittsfield, MA. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Art Education from the University of Central Florida. She is a former Special Education Art Teacher and Art Museum Curator. As a child, summer vacations back to New England included visits to the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge and may have influenced her early watercolors which reflect an interest in the human form and everyday life. A lithograph of her grandfather's work boots, titled "Charlie's Shoes", given to the family by the artist Tully Filmus, was another early artistic influence. A love of the landscape soon led to an affinity for tonal and abstract expressionistic styles.
Karlene currently paints full time in her studio, a converted horse stable, where she creates abstracted landscapes with acrylic paints and graphite. Structures are sometimes included to reflect a human presence and to represent the contrast between our temporary existence and the constancy of nature. She has developed a freedom of line and mark as well as a strong use of color.  Current artistic influences include John Henry Twachtman, Grace Hartigan and  Joan Mitchell.

Artist Statement:

In my recent paintings, trees, vegetation, rocks, water and sky represent constancy, while structures are sometimes added to remind us of human involvement and our temporary existence. These subjects are abstracted by drawing lines and organic forms with my brush, pulling elements to the surface and pushing them back down under layers of paint. The surface is worked rapidly and filled with fields of color. Graphite pencil is used to create additional marks.   I continue to manipulate the canvas until the elements unify to create a place that speaks to me.

Select Exhibitions and Representation:

2016 -Outside the Lines- Ormond Memorial Art Museum – Ormond Beach,FL
2014- FemVibe- Bethune Cookman University Gallery- Daytona Beach, FL
2014 - Equilibrium – Art for a Changing World Catalog- Chicago,IL
2014 - Scapes  -Roan & Black Gallery – Saugatuck, MI
2014 - Soul Speak - Muse & Co. Fine Art – Roswell, GA
2013 - Roan & Black Gallery – Saugatuck, MI
2013- Plum Gallery – St. Augustine, FL
2013- Raw Umber - Ponte Vedra Art Center- Ponte Vedra, FL
2013-Bound Catalog- Phoenix Gallery – New York, NY
2012- Florida Museum for Women Artists- Deland, FL
2012-Solo Exhibition - Hinterland -James Harper Gallery- Ormond Beach, FL
2012-Iconoclass- Museum of Florida Art- Deland, FL

Collections

Florida Hospital
Security First Insurance
Several private collections

Publications

Equilibrium Catalog – Woman Made Gallery – Curated by Beate Minkowski- Chicago,IL.
Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles Magazine – June 2013
Bound Catalog- Phoenix Gallery , NY. – Curated by Cora Rosevear , MOMA
Picturing Florida – The First Coast to the Space Coast- Curated by Kahren Jones Arbitman