I was born in Denver, Colorado. Horses were my passion growing up and I was either barrel racing in rodeos or riding for hours on my own through the mountains of Colorado.  My art career began with costume design and then in the 1980’s after moving to Alaska for ten years I started a graphic design business. In 1990 I moved back to Denver and shortly thereafter began painting full time. 

I have never been completely comfortable within confines of a particular style category for my painting. I believe the subject matter dictates and guides me as the artist. I am a realist, but my paintings range from contemporary realism to the abstract. Each painting evolves though the interaction of the subject matter and my materials.  I am fascinated with light and the effect it has on the mood of a painting.  I spend days thinking and planning out the concept of the painting, not the actual drawing of the work, but the overall concept that I would like to convey. Through light, whether it be shadows, or weather, or subtle color change, I begin to create a work of art that has a tone to it.  Each color and brush stroke put down leading to the next.  I paint many layers, letting each dry in between. I am guided by the textures that arise; the interplay of colors laid on top of each other, and the random shapes that take on a life of their own without actually losing the original subject matter.  I strive to create a work that from a distance allows the viewer to easily recognized the subject matter. Then from close up, I believe that subject should dissolve into interactive textures, colors and shapes.

My background includes studies at university art schools, workshops and seminars. I also owe a great deal to Quang Ho who I studied with for over a year.  In addition, because my father worked for the airlines, I was able to start traveling at a very young age.  I have been lucky to visit great art museums and galleries around the world.  Every time I stood in front of a great work of art I tried to imprint on my mind the genius of that artist’s work. I have so many favorites the list could fill a book, but a few include: Daumier, Degas, Sargent, Giacometti, Blumenschein, Remington, Chatham, Turner, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Sorolla and Van Gogh.  I think that the lessons of the masters, gained through experiencing their art, combined with hard work and painting as many hours as physically possible, is the key to success. For me, art is a process, each piece evolving from the former.

I was chosen as one of the 2007 Artist’s to Watch by Southwest Magazine, and have had articles in The American Art Collector, and FOCUS/Santa Fe Magazine.  I received the Jury’s Top Fifty Award at Salon International Museum of Contemporary masters of Fine Art, and an Award of Excellence from the National Exhibition of the Oil Painters of America.  My work has been collected here and abroad, and can also be seen in many corporate collection around the country.

 

Colorado State University, Fine Art (1967-1968)
Pratt Institute, Fashion Design (1968-1969)
University of Denver, Fine Art (1969-1970)
San Francisco Academy of Art, Graphic Design (1970-1971)
University of Colorado, Anthropology, (1978-1980)
University of Alaska, Bachelors of Business Administration, B.B.A., (1983-1986)
University of Denver, Masters of Business, M.R.E.C.M., (1990-1991)
Quang Ho Professional Studies Class (2000-2001)
Selected Instructors: Quang Ho, Kim English, Michael Workman and David Leffel

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Gussie Fauntleroy, “2007 Artist to Watch”, Southwest Art, January 2007
Joshua Rose, “Karen Myers, Sensory responses in Color and Texture”, The American Art Collector, Volume 13, November 2006
Hallsten McGarry, Susan, “Spirit of Light”, FOCUS/ Santa Fe Magazine, June - July 2005

SELECTED AWARDS & HONORS
Salon International, The International Museum of Contemporary Masters of Fine Art, Greenhouse Gallery of Fine Art, San Antonio, TX Jury’s Top Fifty, 2007
Oil Painters of America,,  Fourteenth Annual National Exhibition. Award of Excellence, 2005

 
SELECTED AFFILIATIONS
Oil Painters of America - Associate

Women Artists of the West - Associate

 

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

WAOW, Women Artist of the West juried 40th National Exhibition, Olaf Wieghorst Museum, El Cajon, CA, 2010

2010 Art for Horses, Juried Show, Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design, Denver, CO, 2010

Colorado Governor’s Invitational, Loveland Art Museum, Loveland, CO, 2008
Salon International, The International Museum of Contemporary Masters of Fine Art,     Greenhouse Gallery of Fine Art, San Antonio, TX, 2007
One-Woman Show, Selby Fleetwood Gallery, Santa Fe, NM 2005, 2006
National Oil Painters of America Show, Hilligoss Gallery, Chicago, IL, 2005
Public Education and Business Coalition, Sixteen Annual Juried Art for Education Show,     Colorado History Museum, Denver, CO, 2004
Foothills Art Center, Juried Show, Colorado Art Open 2003, Golden, CO, 2003
Zwolf Gallery, Grand Opening Invitational, Denver, CO, 2002
Merrill-Johnson Gallery, Denver All-Invitational Exhibition, Denver, CO , 2001
Art Students League of Denver, Juried Show, Exhibition 2000, Denver, CO, 2000

SELECTED COLLECTIONS
Front Range Bank, Centennial, CO, Permanent Collection
Koncilja & Associates, Denver, CO, Permanent Collection
Devil’s Thumb Ranch, Tabernash, CO. Permaent Collection
The Children’s Hospital, Aurora, CO, Permanent Collection
Tuthill & Hughes, LLP, Denver, CO, Permanent Collection
Senate Chambers of  the State of Colorado, Senate Majority Leader Norma Anderson, State Capital Building, Denver, CO, Permanent Collection of Senator Norma Anderson
Junior Symphony Guild Showhome, Guest Artist, Denver, CO