Painting the Essence of the Sea

What is there about seascapes that so enchant us? Perhaps it is because they capture the appeal of the sea itself, an enchantment also captured by the poet John Masefield in his poem Sea-Fever:

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a gray dawn breaking . . .

Karen Blackwood, an internationally recognized fine artist residing on the north shore of Boston, says that  coastal scenery provides her with endless inspiration for her award-winning seascapes. Karen has a passion, and some might say an obsession, for the sea in all of its many moods. She is, after all, a Signature Member of the American Society of Mariner Artists.

Over time, the artist has developed an eye for what is most important in her expression of the sea, simplifying and paring down her artistic choices and focusing on abstract shapes, color, and energy. Karen creates a realism that expresses the atmospheric light and the living energy of her subject.

Karen Blackwood is a fine arts graduate of the University of New Hampshire and a student for life.  With her commitment to continued growth and insight, her work is always evolving, allowing her to stay fresh while exploring a singular subject - the sea - and its potential for evoking both love and fear.

After living for years in southern California, Karen no longer has to use images of the shore stored in her memory as inspiration; instead, she can walk her local beach to watch the waves crash against the shore.

When queried about a favorite piece of art that is not her own, Karen indicated that her absolute favorite work of art is The Return from Fishing (1894) by Joaquin Sorolla. She first saw this massive painting in person on a trip to London and was literally moved to tears. The passion it expressed and the great mastery of tools it demonstrated was so compelling that Karen found herself returning to it over and over. The experience made her feel incredibly thankful to be able to do what she does, to achieve that kind of emotion and passion flowing through her brush as a life-long pursuit. When people have told Karen that her work has moved them to tears, it has been the greatest compliment she could ever wish to hear. 

Karen is represented by the Todd Bonita Gallery in Portsmouth, NH; the Camden Falls Gallery, Camden, ME; and The Marine Arts Gallery, Bonita Springs, FL. The artist will be presenting her process and her work at the October meeting of Rye Art Study. Here is just a sampling of how she paints the essence of the sea. If you want to see more, please go to her website https://www.karenblackwoodfineart.com/.