Karen was born in Michigan, and grew up in Bloomfield Hills in the Detroit area. After completing a BA and MA in art Education at the University of Michigan, she began to paint on location at a family summer home in Canada, and eventually worked from photographs in a studio.
"Instructors and family encouraged me to follow my own instincts in art," Karen states, "and I found that my artistic directions tended toward a controlled realism. I enjoy the glimmer of light on water and capturing scenes with strong light and contrasting shadows. I look for subjects that contain an element of drama created by familiar settings, which can be depicted with attention to details that enhance the image. I have always worked in both oil and watercolor, and enjoy the unique capabilities of each medium."