Go ahead. Reach for a pretty cuppa. I’m sure the butterflies won’t mind. Which one is your favorite? 

What a treat to be able to drink in Canadian artist Karen Hoepting’s rich, vibrant colors and inventive compositions!

Karen was born on a farm in rural Ontario, where, from a young age, she and her siblings wiled away the hours drawing and painting. Living in the country, it’s no surprise that Karen’s favorite subjects were animals, which she tried to draw as realistically as possible.

After high school she attended the University of Waterloo, where she earned an Honors BA in Fine Arts. Her early studio work consisted of drawing with pencils and pastels on paper, and oils and acrylics on canvas. Today, she combines these media on both paper and canvas.

Her acrylic paintings are detailed with graphite, oil stick, and pencil crayons. She also uses texturizing mediums and gels to enhance the final imagery. Her naive, folkloric touches are distinctive and unconventional.

At the heart of my work is my love for animals, which has been the case for as long as I can remember. My own pets, two dogs and three cats, are not only a direct inspiration to me, but they are a constant reminder of why I love all animals. I see them as flawless and free spirited; as their world and ours move together. In my paintings, animals often become characters, playing a part in a story (as we all do in life). They are always celebrated with decorative elements and vibrant color. It is my intent to create relatable and light-hearted paintings.

The narrative element certainly draws the viewer into her pictures; when I first saw her animal depictions I thought of Marc Chagall, and sure enough, he is one of her influences.

She’s also intrigued by the German Expressionists and the Symbolists. She is emotionally drawn to the vivid and powerful imagery of Kathe Kollwitz, Egon Schiele, and Gustav Klimt. Like these artists, she speaks to the viewer through symbols and stylistic motifs.

Karen’s work is featured regularly in select galleries throughout Canada, the USA, and Great Britain. She’s also had many successful exhibitions in Japan.

To purchase prints, cards, or pet portrait figurines, check out Karen’s Etsy Shop, Petite Wing. Original pieces are available via Gallery 505 , 1st Dibs, and Art Cloud, among others. For the latest, follow her on Facebook or Instagram.

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*Copyright © 2021 Jama Rattigan of Jama’s Alphabet Soup. All rights reserved.