ABOUT Karen Conger, Artist
As an educator and advocate for lifelong learning, I am passionate about fostering social change through art and education. My artistic journey spans a lifetime, beginning with childhood sketches and cartoons for classmates, evolving into a dedicated practice with soft pastels, pen and ink, and colored pencils on archival-quality surfaces like PastelMat. I also embrace modern technology, creating digital works with Wacom display panels and digital pens. My art focuses on capturing the essence of animals (wildlife, domestic pets, and equine subjects), landscapes, and architectural scenes such as courtyards and homes.
Artistic Background
Art has been a constant in my life, from early doodles to a formal Certificate in Illustration in my young adult life from the well known 'Draw Me' Art Instruction Schools in Minneapolis. This correspondence course provided a strong foundation in shapes, values, and colors, honing my drawing skills. Alongside my artistic pursuits, I hold a BSBA in Finance/Math, an MA in Education (Curriculum and Instruction), and a PhD in Education. These academic achievements inform my creative and teaching practices, blending discipline with imagination. Art gives me the energy I need to do the work I do and I am ready to do more art!
Professional Development and Community
I seek continuous growth, actively participating in professional artist workshops and academies across the United States and the United Kingdom. I am doing this through new memberships to build relationships and skills with other professional artists! I am now a member of Cultivate, an alumni group of the PicardStudio.com program designed for discipline and professionalism under the guidance of Alain Picard as an alumni of his pastel-focused courses. I am also a current member of the Pastel Society of Southern California; Pastel Society of the West Coast; Pastel Society of America (in progress); Women Artists of the West (in progress); as well as a member volunteer of Bakersfield Museum of Art; CSUB Alumni Association; University of Tennessee Knoxville Alumni Association; Walden University Alumni Association and Connect Group; and a new volunteer board director of CSUB 60+ Club for 2025-2027. These connections fuel my inspiration and strengthen my ties to the art community.
My Artistic Process
My art explorations through the years have given me practice with multiple techniques in drawing, painting and sculpting. This includes technology as well as traditional materials including soft pastels, acrylics, oils, inks, graphite pencils, and sculpting clay. I have ultimately gravitated toward soft pastels, pen and ink, and colored pencils in my traditional art; I use Wacom display panels and photoshop software with my digital pen and my digital art. They each have their place and I am learning that!
My artwork celebrates the beauty of the animals and our natural world, serene and glowing landscapes, and architectural elegance, which I attempt to render with precision and vibrancy. By integrating traditional techniques with cutting-edge tools, my goal is to create pieces that resonate with both heart and craft.
Please explore my portfolios to see my latest works, and feel free to connect with me about art, education, or collaboration opportunities.
Fun with images - is this the same person?
Which are 'selfies' and which are not?
How do you tell?
If the client was the subject of the photo, which would they prefer?
If you were the artist, what would you do?