KAREN
BURNS
paintings
what I see
My art is connected to the natural world. Subjects for paintings are frequently of the familiar — my immediate surroundings and the beauty of upstate New York. I am interested in exploring the changing seasons, the time of day and quality of light.
The journey from seeing to interpreting takes many turns.
The energy generated when I encounter a specific subject is eventually channeled in its unique way. While grounded in reality, over time my work has become more distilled. My most successful work happens when I relinquish control of outcomes and let the paintings dictate the process. A successful piece should be a bit of a surprise, even to me.
Sometimes insight gained from earlier paintings organically finds its way into the new work, this fresh perspective unearthing a richer understanding of the subject matter. Pieces become catalysts as I continue to explore what drew me to a particular place, scene, or object.