Karen Israel & Mike Laiuppa
June 30 to July 30
Artists Opening – Sat July 8 from 4 to 6
Artists Opening – Sat July 8 from 4 to 6
Karen Israel Artist Statement
Creating art is a visual language and the most efficient way to communicate my
impressions of the world. I enjoy using line, color and design to make a dramatic
statement. As I begin the creative process, the medium of pastel provides an
immediate and colorful way to make painterly decisions and choices.
Karen Israel's pastel paintings are defined by their dynamic compositions and unique
viewpoints. She is influenced by the light and mood of the subject and lets those
elements dictate her approach. These subjects are rendered with a strong appreciation
for the rigors of formal design coupled with a fearless array of color choices.
In addition to numerous awards, Karen’s work has garnered the honor of Signature
Member with the American Artists Professional League, Master Circle with the
International Association of Pastel Societies and Master Pastelist with the Pastel
Society of America. Karen is an artist member of the Salmagundi Club, NYC,The
Copley Society, Boston and the Lyme Art Association. Karen conducts many teaching demonstrations and workshops throughout the United States and she has served as juror for many national competitions.
Creating art is a visual language and the most efficient way to communicate my
impressions of the world. I enjoy using line, color and design to make a dramatic
statement. As I begin the creative process, the medium of pastel provides an
immediate and colorful way to make painterly decisions and choices.
Karen Israel's pastel paintings are defined by their dynamic compositions and unique
viewpoints. She is influenced by the light and mood of the subject and lets those
elements dictate her approach. These subjects are rendered with a strong appreciation
for the rigors of formal design coupled with a fearless array of color choices.
In addition to numerous awards, Karen’s work has garnered the honor of Signature
Member with the American Artists Professional League, Master Circle with the
International Association of Pastel Societies and Master Pastelist with the Pastel
Society of America. Karen is an artist member of the Salmagundi Club, NYC,The
Copley Society, Boston and the Lyme Art Association. Karen conducts many teaching demonstrations and workshops throughout the United States and she has served as juror for many national competitions.
Mike Laiuppa Artist Statement
I'm an oil painter and personal trainer living in Simsbury. When I'm not training, you can usually find me at my easel working on a portrait or still life.
Art has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Being able to elicit emotion from someone simply by brushing a streak of pigment and oil across a piece of fabric can be empowering. At an early age I could be found with a pencil and pad of paper in hand. In my teens, I played with oil paint, then moved on to 2D and 3D digital art after college, dabbled in sculpting in my early forties, and finally passed through acrylic paints only to settle back into oil paint once again.
Oil paint feels alive to me. It can be pushed, prodded, streaked, and steered. But no matter what you do to it, it will remain true to your intent. I find it a fascinating medium with which to create. It's by far the easiest I've played with, but truly the hardest to master. It's for these reasons, I feel drawn to commanding it.Whether it's music, art, martial arts, fitness, cooking, writing, or whatever new facet of life interests me, I learn it to the best of my ability and then pass it along as soon as I'm able. Seeing others improve their lives is truly joyous.
I'm an oil painter and personal trainer living in Simsbury. When I'm not training, you can usually find me at my easel working on a portrait or still life.
Art has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Being able to elicit emotion from someone simply by brushing a streak of pigment and oil across a piece of fabric can be empowering. At an early age I could be found with a pencil and pad of paper in hand. In my teens, I played with oil paint, then moved on to 2D and 3D digital art after college, dabbled in sculpting in my early forties, and finally passed through acrylic paints only to settle back into oil paint once again.
Oil paint feels alive to me. It can be pushed, prodded, streaked, and steered. But no matter what you do to it, it will remain true to your intent. I find it a fascinating medium with which to create. It's by far the easiest I've played with, but truly the hardest to master. It's for these reasons, I feel drawn to commanding it.Whether it's music, art, martial arts, fitness, cooking, writing, or whatever new facet of life interests me, I learn it to the best of my ability and then pass it along as soon as I'm able. Seeing others improve their lives is truly joyous.