Karen Alberti
Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
Alberti_Karen_Playtime_40.7 x 50.8 cm_acrylic on canvas
Alberti_Karen_Bark curiosity_40.7 x 50.8 cm_acrylic on canvas
Alberti_Karen_Shine a light_40.7 x 50.8 cm_acrylic on canvas
Alberti_Karen_Stand tall_40.7 x 50.8 cm_acrylic on canvas
Alberti_Karen_Rising up_40.7 x 50.8 cm_acrylic on canvas
Biography
Karen Alberti, a visual artist based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, has nurtured a lifelong passion for drawing and painting. From an early age, her artistic inclinations were evident, though they took a backseat during her high school years when she was encouraged to pursue a more academic path. Despite setting aside her creative pursuits, Karen’s fascination with art endured, sparked anew by captivating courses in Art History during her undergraduate studies.
After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Michigan, Karen gradually found her way back to art. While working as an administrative assistant, she seized opportunities to attend numerous art classes and workshops, immersing herself once again in the creative world. Her involvement with the Ann Arbor Women Artists group provided an outlet to showcase her work in various exhibits, fostering her growth as an artist.
In recent years, Karen has deepened her artistic practice through online courses offered by the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and Walk the Arts in Ottawa, Canada. Now retired, she dedicates herself fully to her artistic evolution. With a renewed focus and an adventurous spirit, Karen continues to explore and refine her unique creative voice.
Statement
Treeness
Trees do not ask much in return…to let them be in their perfection and imperfection. The observation of nature has always been a guiding force in both my life and my artwork. I remember as a child, I roamed around our yard collecting sticks and leaves, and watched my father planting shrubs and trees.
Today, every day while walking with my dog, I am looking around at the trees, the flowers, the grass, the river, the scenery. The unique qualities of the landscape stand out to me. Each day I go through a myriad of images, on my phone and computer; I lose site off what is authentic. Then I notice the beauty around me.
My creative process begins with quick, gestural sketches—intuitive responses to objects, scenery, or photographs I’ve taken. From these sketches I begin painting and deciphering the marks on my canvas. My work evolves on its own path to completion. I immerse myself in artists’ works, past and present, finding inspiration that shapes and enriches my process.
The tree is now the subject of my current work. My observations of tree trunks have led me to appreciate trees in new ways. Their surfaces are all different. Some have nooks and crannies, some have creases, some are crooked, some straight, some healthy, and some sick. In my paintings I play with these forms and surfaces, using color and abstraction to magnify these often-overlooked gems of our environment.
Imagination and spontaneity, as well as elements of surrealism and abstract expressionism, are at the heart of my artistic journey. I draw influence from the Fauves for their bold use of color and abstraction, and from Franz Marc for his imaginative depictions of animals. I also aspire to channel the expressive, spontaneous energy found in the works of Frank Auerbach.