Featured Artwork: Karen Ann Hitt
Fronts Waking
20 x 16 in.
Oil on linen
“Karen Ann Hitt paints with a heart and vigor I see too seldom. She’s developed the ability to cull the essence of a place and gift it to the viewer…Look carefully at her work—her use of brushwork amazes me as she moves seamlessly from small to larger strokes to create an effective texture; almost as if that texture is an actual part of the scene she paints.” Barbara Hughes, Hughes Gallery , 333 Park Ave., Boca Grande FL 33921
Culminating from multiple studies and plein air work as the sun rises; one of this Artist’s favorite times of the day is in the light before the dawn. It is a location—both figuratively and literally—this Artist has also learned to rise to meet and embrace all it brings. A picture paints a thousand words it has been said. An explosion of them play like trumpets blaring; reflecting glory – though it can not be reproduced – it inspires a symphony of color notes to lay down as a humble reply.
When one takes on the study of the clouds and the effects of light and color on them, you learn two things quickly: it is indeed always coldest just before the dawn; and the colors are always the brightest just before the dawn.
In addition to the colder temperatures and cold fronts equaling glorious lighting and colors on the clouds, that, as an artist we may only be a shadow of the Divine brushwork being unveiled before one’s eyes, the human eye is enabled to see colors and capture them better than any camera is able too. Illustrating why an Artist is inspired and simply must paint, in an attempt to reflect to the best of their ability the true nature of the colors. Even when, or especially when perhaps, they appear unbelievable – sometimes the most difficult task at hand is making them believable. It perhaps is what compels us to do what no other profession does and attempt to gift it back to the viewer to experience all for themselves too.
That, the underlying to this studio work by Karen Ann Hitt: Fronts Waking of which record cold temperatures and a fast moving cold front enlightened just before the dawn, modeled.
Artist Statement
My paintings seek to capture influential daily moments, and the lasting effects these memories play on our hearts and
minds throughout our lives. As an artist the passion is to reflect light, life, land, expressions as genuinely experienced “At That Moment…”. I paint in the hope to transport the viewer while also exposing them to the very emotion that stops us both now in our tracks to experience a view; simply, seeking with my art to bring you into viewing your own, “At That Moment…,” too.
Karen’s paintings are noted to accentuate the effects of light to the scene adding to the luminosity of her award winning art. Classically trained in the BFA Program at Parsons School of Design in New York, that classic background is ever evident in her style, along with her love of capturing the figure and the effects of light in all of her scenes. Her area landscapes and skyscapes reflect the essence of the landmark, with accentuation on the effects of light to the scene. Karen’s award winning paintings have been collected by private and corporate collections: such as Venice City Hall locally and nationally the United States IRS. Her Illustrations have been published nationally in Children’s Picture Books in addition to being distributed in a line of gifts. Notably awarded as a participant in “Paint the Parks” & “Paint America” National Exhibits, 2006 recipient of the Muses Award. Her most recent children’s book illustration endeavor received a five star rating from Clarion ranking it as an excellent choice for children. She is the founder of the Venice Plein Air group and signature member of Plein Air Florida, plus a nationally exhibiting artist.
Karen is predominantly an oil painter; her style combines representational and impressionistic, making the emphasis on color and effects of light along with depicting innocence candidly with expressions where a character or portrait also plays a role. When painting a field sketch in plein air or a portrait in the studio the medium is generally oil; her palette has a Renaissance influence combined with a Hudson River School accent. Studies at Parsons School of Design, along with workshops with modern masters continually influence, as does her extended traveling, crisscrossing the United States. Often working from life and then bringing that life experience back into the studio emphasizing the effects of light, atmosphere, and the circumstances.
Recent Abbreviated Resume:
2017 6th Annual Semi-Finalist PleinAir magazine Plein Air Salon awarded Best Floral
2016 6th Annual Semi-Finalist PleinAir magazine Plein Air Salon Best Acrylic
2017 OPA Oil Painters Of America Eastern Regional Juried Exhibition Of Traditional Oils
2017 AIS American Impressionist Society 1st Annual Small Works National Exhibit
2017 13th Annual Best of Plein Air LPAPA
2016 OPA Oil Painters of America The 25th Annual National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils
2016 Women’s Painters of the South East 5th Annual Juried Exhibit
2015 10th Biennial National Juried Art Exhibition
2015 OPA Oil Painters of America National Juried Salon Show of Traditional Oils
2015 WPSE Women Painters of the South East 4th Annual Juried Exhibit
Published Editorial
2016 Fine Art Connoisseur magazine May/June
2017 PleinAir magazine October/November 2017 PleinAir magazine June/July
2016 PleinAir magazine October/November
2014 Living on the Sun Coast January
2016, 2017 & 2018 faculty artist at the Plein Air Convention & Expo
2014 & 2017 Juried national artist at EnPlein Air Texas
2016 Awarded Best Landscape by WPSE Women’s Painters of the South East
Associate/Member: Oil Painters of America, American Impressionist Society, Plein Air Artist Colorado, Laguna Artist Plein Air Painters Association. Signature Member Plein Air Florida. Founder Plein Air Venice.
Notably—Juried Participant Top 50: National Paint The Parks & Paint America Exhibits Plus Muses Award Recipient Sarasota County
Karen was born in Columbus, Ohio, and moved to Florida with her family in 1975. From there to New York City to attend college at Parsons School of Design in 1978. Married in 1986, husband in the USCG, mother of three, she and her family experienced many scenic duty stations: living in Florida, Puerto Rico, Virginia, Washington State. They moved back to Florida in 1995 to Venice. Raised her three children as a single parent since 1998 in Venice, Florida, as a Fine Art Instructor, nationally exhibiting artist and illustrator to present. Karen Ann remarried in 2015, she and her husband enjoy continuing the journey crisscrossing across the country for several months a year—she painting, he hiking all along the way.
View more of Karen’s work at www.AnOriginalHitt.com.
Contact Karen at [email protected] or 941.586.0207, or visit her studio An Original Hitt Fine Art & Atelier 230 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Venice FL 34285.
