Get to Know Our Members
(Plein Air Artists of Colorado)
By Tracy Haines
This month's featured artist: Karen Halbert http://www.karenhalbert.com/
Karen strives to transform the beauty of mathematics into her art, utilizing her knowledge of areas such as dynamic symmetry, fractals and chaos theory. The “hidden harmony” of Karen's work is shown in her cloud fractals, wave patterns and stream flows as well as cliff striations and tessellations.Karen grew up in the West, but moved East as an adult to attend college and to pursue a career as acollege professor of mathematics and computer science, and later as a Wall Street executive. She eventually settled in Woodstock, New York to fulfill her life-long dream of being an artist, but ultimately was drawn back West to the artist-rich town of Santa Fe. Karen continues to use her computer skills as a volunteer Website Administrator for the Plein Air Painters of New Mexico.
Tracy Haines (TH): When did you first become interested in art?
Karen Halbert (KH): As a child, I loved to draw and paint and I won the high school award for art (I still have the pin in my jewelry chest). I chose another passion, mathematics, as amorepractical career.
(TH): Where do you sell your work? ( galleries, festivals, internet...)
(KH): I am represented by the Purple Sage Gallery in Albuquerque and am planning a featured artist show in December 2015, titled, "Hidden Harmony". Two of my paintings will be at the New Mexico Art League in Octoberin the "Biologique" exhibition. This exhibition features art inspired by nature withconcepts such asthe "Golden Mean", Fibonacci sequence, π (Pi), fractals, and mathematical harmonyunderlying the works. My works sell through the gallery and exhibitions sponsored by PAPNM and PAAC as well as through my website, www.karenhalbert.com.
(TH): What is your biggest challenge when painting en plein air?
(KH): My biggest challenge is simplifying the scene before me. Allowing my mind to play with mathematical concepts helps me in theprocess.
(TH): Briefly describe your most interesting or funny plein air experience.
(KH): This is really an experience that is an aftermath of plein air experiences: Six years ago while walking my dog in Santa Fe, I encountered a woman who took one look at me and immediately exclaimed, "So, you are a painter!" “What do you mean?”, I responded. She pointed at the paint on my clothes (I do find that paint gets all over me especially when I paint outside) and my plein air hat. As a (plein air) painter herself from Cape Cod, she was completely aware of the significance! That woman is now my best friend. Art and painting still remain our favorite topics of conversation on our daily walks with our dogs, Chili and Caleb, both red standard poodles.
(TH): Please tell me about an interesting non-– art aspect of yourself that people might be surprised to know.
(KH): Some people might not know that I was a computer programmer, and then the manager/executive on software projects that are still being used to drive trading on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.
Another, perhaps more interesting fact, is that I lived in Honolulu in high school and return frequently. I have painted in Molokai at the Leper Colony and Honolulu and plan to travel to the North Shore of Oahu to paint at the end of this year for a few weeks. I will look for the hidden harmony in the waves, the cliffs and the clouds.
(TH): What is your long-term goal as an artist?
(KH): I continue to work to improve my skills and to impart any knowledge that I have been acquiring in small classes. And I will continue to enter competitionsto hone my skills.
(TH): Any tips on tools, techniques or gear for the budding plein air artist
(KH): Simplify the landscape: look for the big shapes and worry about the details only at the end, if at all. Keep your equipment light and have it ready at all times for that moment of inspiration.
(TH): What advice do you give an artist just starting out?
(KH): Use solvent-free materials; the health hazards of solvents are well-known. I recently acquired this as my motto, and I am teaching a class in solvent-free oil painting in Arizona this winter. Also, work with a limited palette, a cool and warm of each primary for a more harmonious painting.
“Santa Fe River Flows I”, 6x12, oil
Plein Air Painters of Colorado, October 2015 Interview/Article by Tracy Haines