Karen Shaw
Painter of Color & Light

  Karen Shaw’s Biography

Growing up as an Air Force brat, Karen Shaw lived in Japan, Turkey, Germany and many of the 50 United States.  Karen learned to make friends quickly with people of diverse cultures, and, as a vocal music teacher, taught students of many nationalities for thirty years.  She studied figure drawing and painting at the Art Students League in Denver, Colorado from 1996-2001.

Karen relocated to the Laguna Beach area, after teaching in Bangkok, Thailand, during 2001-2002.  Since coming to California, she has grown fond of painting the beautiful scenery alla prima, her favorite being the ocean and beaches of Orange County .  However, she still enjoys painting people, capturing their expression and character on canvas.

Karen is Director of the Rotating Gallery at the Laguna Hills Community Center .  She has exhibited in the Sawdust Winter Festival, the National Orange Show in San Bernadino, the LPAPA Shows, Balboa Art Walk, the SOCALPAPA Outdoor Festivals, the Orange County Fair, and the Saddle Art League Shows.   She was the featured artist for the Summer Concerts at the Laguna Hills Community Center and for the Laguna Woods Art Association.   She is a juried member of Oil Painters of America and a member of the California Art Club, SoCalPapa, LPapa, the Orange County Fine Arts Assn, the SoCalArtists Assn, the Saddleback Art League, the Impressionist Society of America, and The Denver Art Students League in Colorado. She has received numerous awards in the San Clemente , Aliso Viejo and Laguna Woods Art Associations, and the CA Art Club.  Karen is represented by the Mission Fine Art Gallery in San Juan Capistrano. 

"To sincerely express through my painting that which I see in people and nature, in the most colorful and rhythmic manner, is my ultimate goal in art."