Artist and Art and Ecology Educator

About

Karen is a visual artist and arts educator working in the area of art and ecology.

She has a background in ceramics but currently works with a range of different techniques including oils, alternative photographic processes and various natural materials.

She is interested in how we use art making as a way to explore and deepen our connection to place.

She works through a process of research, direct observation and deep sensorial immersion in place. She’s driven by curiosity and sees art making as a way of bringing back to life our intimate and innate relationship with the rest of the living world. “Art making situates me in a place, the practice of making, slowing me down, being still long enough to tune in and pay attention, to notice the often overlooked and re-engage with what is alive around you.”

Alongside her own arts practice, she works extensively designing and delivering high quality arts experiences in a wide variety of community and education settings as well as providing professional development training for educators nationwide. She is particularly interested in the potential for the arts in place-based learning and ecological education and has an M.A. (Research) investigating the role art can play in engaging children with the natural world.