karen halt: evolution of an artist

In this life, as we move through our days we evolve, learn, change, grow. In the late 1960’s, self-taught painter Karen Halt began painting still life, wild life and portraits. The 1980’s saw a significant shift in the artist’s perspective and greater interest when she began to put her subjects into more imaginative settings.

Cocoons Embrace, 22″ x 27″ x 11″
graphite drawings, embroidery on silk dipped in beeswax, beaded/embroidered silk

Cocoons Embrace, detail

Halt’s work continued to evolve, more recently as she moved the two dimensional paintings off the canvas and onto…cotton and muslin? Yes, cotton and muslin. Today, Karen Halt’s portfolio includes a wardrobe of dress and collar sculptures that are hand-sewn, each wearing graphite, colored pencil and embroidered scenes she once painted with acrylic on the flat of a canvas.

Ladder Dress, 29″ x 19″ x 8″
colored pencil, graphite, embroidery on Muslin dipped in beeswax

For the final step, the artist dips each piece in beeswax and resin which hardens the free standing sculptures. The result brings the two dimensional work to life…a life that will continue to evolve, change and grow in both small and large ways – along with the artist herself.

Three Sisters, 18″ x 24″, acrylic on board