The Artist

Karen Budan Fine Art

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As an artist I am inspired to paint by a variety of subjects. I choose my subjects by what delights and captures my imagination. I find I am most intrigued by the way light plays across a scene or object and brings it to life. Whether I am painting plein air trying to capture the light before it changes, or in the studio with a controlled lighting setting, I am trying to capture that play of light. A very close second to the impact of light on objects is color,....delicious, powerful, calming, versatile color. I so enjoy playing with color to interpret the scenes or objects I have chosen to paint. Shapes and textures round out the criteria for my subjects. Without a variety of shapes and textures light would have little to play upon. Considering my criteria for subjects, it was a natural for me to choose soft pastels as my medium to paint them. What better medium to express light, color, shape and texture than the pure pigment crystals found in soft pastels. For me, painting with soft pastels is also a very tactile experience as I use my hands to apply and maneuver rich, vibrant color to capture my concept. Landscape, still life, animals.....if the lighting, color, shapes and textures are represented, I am driven to paint them,. So much to paint....so little time....what a stimulating challenge.

Artist Resume

EDUCATION:

Liz Kenyon, Brio Fine Art studio two day workshop, Scottsdale, AZ, 2010
Karen Howell, Art Consultant, Promoting Yourself as an Artist, Scottsdale, AZ, 2010
Richard McKinley, Advanced Plein Air Pastel, Santa Barbara, CA, 2010
Maggie Price, Plein Air Pastel, Scottsdale, AZ, 2010
Clark Mitchell. Plein Air Pastel, Sedona, AZ, 2009
Allen Garns, Learning From the Masters Pastel Class, Scottsdale, AZ, 2009
Richard Belcastro, Photoshop Elements Class, Scottsdale, AZ, 2009
Richard McKinley, advanced twelve day workshop, France, 2009
Simon Kogan, Scottsdale Artists’ School, Scottsdale, AZ, 2009
Richard McKinley, advanced five day workshop, Tucson, AZ, 2009
Liz Kenyon, Brio Fine Art Studio five day workshop, Scottsdale, AZ, 2009
Liz Kenyon, Brio Fine Art Studio two day workshop, Scottsdale, AZ, 2008
Liz Kenyon, Brio Fine Art Studio two day workshop, Scottsdale, AZ, 2008
Linda Dellandre, one day plein aire workshop, Sedona, AZ, 2008
Allen Garns, one day plein aire workshop, Mesa, AZ, 2008
Richard McKinley, Cortona, Italy twelve day workshop, 2008
Candice Eisenfeldt, Scottsdale Artist School one day workshop, Scottsdale, AZ, 2008
Sally Strand, Scottsdale Artist School five day workshop, Scottsdale, AZ, 2008
Sue Hunter, Paradise Valley Community College classes, Paradise Valley, AZ, 2007, 2008
Susan Ogilvie, Scottsdale Artist School five day workshop, Scottsdale, AZ, 2005

HONORS AND AWARDS:

Pastel Society of the West Coast's Pastels USA 24th International Open Exhibit - Pastel Society of New Mexico Award
Arizona Pastel Artist Association, Spring, 2010 – Honorable Mention
Pastel Society of America Juried Associate Member
Arizona Pastel Artist Association, Winter, 2010 – Honorable Mention
Glendale Arts Council Fine Art Show, January 2010 - Pastel Division, Second Place
Arizona Pastel Artists Association, Fall, 2009 - Honorable Mention
Merit Scholarship, Scottsdale Artists’ School, Spring, 2009
Peoria Celebration of Artists, March, 2009 – Third Place
Arizona Art Alliance Show, April, 2008 – Award of Merit
Cave Creek Film and Art Festival, 2008 - Finalist
Arizona Art Alliance Juried Member

EXHIBITIONS:

Group Exhibitions:

Arizona Art Alliance Gallery Exhibit, Scottsdale, AZ, June through September, 2010
Arizona Art Alliance Mayo Marriott Exhibit, Scottsdale, AZ, Winter, 2010
Arizona Art Alliance Mayo Marriott Exhibit, Scottsdale, AZ, Fall, 2009
Arizona Pastel Artist Association Member Show, Fountain Hills, AZ, September, 2009
Arizona Pastel Artist Association Member Show, Sedona, AZ, Summer, 2009
Arizona Art Alliance Show, Peoria, AZ, March, 2009
Arizona Art Alliance Show, Fountain Hills, AZ, November, 2008
Arizona Pastel Artist Association Member Show, Fountain Hills, AZ, September, 2009
Desert Broom Library Exhibition, Cave Creek, AZ, April 2008
Arizona Art Alliance Show, Phoenix, AZ, April 2008
Arizona Art Alliance Show, Glendale, AZ, January 2008

Juried Exhibitions:

Pastel Society of Colorado International Mile High 2010 Exhibit, Grand Junction, CO, September, 2010
Cave Creek Film and Art Festival, Cave Creek, AZ, June, 2010
Pastel Society of the West Coast 24^th Annual International Exhibit, Pastels U.S.A., Los Gatos, CA, June, 2010
Arizona Pastel Artists’ Association Spring Juried Show, Sedona, AZ, April, 2010
Arizona Plein Air Painters Winter Juried Show, Mesa, AZ, February, 2010
Arizona Pastel Association Winter Juried Show, Mesa, AZ, February, 2010
Glendale Arts Council Juried Fine Art Show, Glendale, AZ, January, 2010
International Association of Pastel Societies 15^th Juried Exhibit, Brea, CA, 2010
Sonoran Arts League Small Works Show, Cave Creek, AZ, 2009
Arizona Pastel Artist Association Fall Juried Show, Mesa, AZ, 2009
Cave Creek Film and Art Festival, Cave Creek, AZ, June, 2009
Arizona Pastel Association Spring Membership Show, Sedona, AZ, April, 2009
Peoria Celebration of Artists, Peoria City Hall, Peoria, AZ, March, 2009
“Mild to Wild: Animals in Art”, Brio Fine Arts Studio, Scottsdale, AZ, January, 2009
Arizona Art Guild, Fountain Hills, AZ, November, 2008
Taste of Cave Creek, Cave Creek, AZ, August 2008
Cave Creek Film and Art Festival, Cave Creek, AZ, Finalist, June, 2008
Arizona Pastel Association Spring Juried Member Show, Sedona, AZ, April 2008
Paradise Valley Community College Student Art Exhibition, Paradise Valley, AZ, April 2008
Brio Fine Art Studio Juried Student Art Show, Scottsdale, AZ, March 2008
Arizona Pastel Association Fall Juried Member Show, Phoenix, AZ November 2007

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:

Arizona Pastel Association, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
Juried Member - President, 2009/10, 1010/11
Newsletter Editor, 2007/08, 2008/09
Program Co-Chair, 2008/09
Historian, 2008/09
International Association of Pastel Societies, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
Pastel Society of America, 2010
Juried Associate Member
Arizona Art Alliance, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
Juried Member
Jury Committee Director, 2010
West Coast Pastel Association, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
New Mexico Pastel Association, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
Sonoran Art League, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
Volunteer Coordinator, 2010
Arizona Art Guild, 2008, 2009, 2010
Arizona Plein Air Painters, 2008, 2009, 2010