Karen Adrienne

Karen Adrienne is the owner and director of Artdogs Studios and Circling the Square Fine Art Press.

"For the past fifteen years I have been investigating the properties of water and the continuum of water and sky. I began these explorations at a time when I was developing a new printmaking technique that integrated the properties of folding and printing simultaneously."

“Something special happens when Karen Adrienne takes a walk. Nature flattens out into shimmering planes of color, mark, and movement, and these reflect an emotional conversation with a piece of sky, water, night, or moment of transformation. Each individual print is made utilizing the unique qualities of a printing press to capture ink, folds and embossing all at the same time. Through both intention and chance, the original vision and emotional connection to nature is re-awakened for the artist and the viewer.” David Morgan, Green Lion Gallery

Karen has received numerous grants, awards and artist residencies, which have promoted and fostered her work. Some of these awards have taken her to India, Indonesia, Mexico, Newfoundland, and Europe. They have been a rich source of inspiration for her work.

She was a Professor of Art at the University of Maine at Augusta for 30 years where she taught drawing, printmaking and artists' books.

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While I am working it is hard to separate labor, emotions and intentions. And then there is chance. This, like in life, can be the directional force and impetus for more conscious decisions. Some decisions, like observation, seem imperative and others are more spontaneous.

The constantly increasing perils of climate change demand artistic attention and appreciation of our world connections, and responsibilities. The difficulty and complexity of our predicaments invigorates my work and challenges my response.

The reciprocal relationship between the folded and printed components of the monotypes creates a dialog of structure, and the parameters of the perspective. The natural elements are alive with environmental observations and concerns. My ongoing relationship with nature flattens out into planes of color, mark and movement. They are built by the mutual relationship of concealing and revealing, plan and chance. As I investigate properties of nature with marks and inky flats of color, I also explore properties of paper with the pressure of the press. These layers are built upon until I have captured a momentary balance of chance with my fugitive experience and direct concerns for nature.