Karen Margulis

Biography

Karen Margulis was born in Connecticut and was raised in South Florida. She currently lives in Marietta, Georgia. Karen received her BA in Education from the University of Florida. 

Karen’ primary medium is pastel  although she enjoys all mediums. She is a Master Circle recipient of the International Association of Pastel Societies and a Signature Member of the Pastel Society of America. She is also a Member of Excellence in the Southeastern Pastel Society. Her landscape and wildflower paintings have received recognition in many International exhibitions including PSA and IAPS where her Queen Anne’s Lace painting won the 2011 poster competition. Karen’s work has been featured in the June 2014 issue of Pastel Journal. Her painting ‘Summer Reprise‘ was chosen for the cover image.   Karen is a Daily Painter and art blogger. She teaches workshops and classes throughout the Southeast and online. Karen’s passion for art education is expressed on her art blog ‘Painting My World’ where she shares art tips and and inspiration every day.

Recent Awards, Exhibits, Workshops

June 2015               Instructor          International Association of Pastel Societies 11th Biennial         

                                                       Convention     Albuquerque, New Mexico

November 2014       Workshop  Instructor        Appalachian Pastel Society, Asheville, NC

                            

June 2014                Feature Article and Cover     Pastel Journal June Issue

May  2014               Second Place     Southeastern Pastel Society 16th International

                                                        Exhibition, Atlanta, Georgia

January 2014          Master Circle Award   International Association of Pastel Societies

September 2013     Workshop Instructor      Lake Toxaway Artist Guild

June 2013              10th International  Exhibition IAPS Albuquerque, New Mexico

May 2013               15th Member’s Exhibition   Southeastern Pastel Society

                                                                        Carrolton, Georgia

My teaching philosophy:

• My goal is to give students the tools they need to simplify the painting process so they can paint with more expression.  I believe that every good painting begins with a plan. 

• I also believe that artists of every level benefit from a review of the basic concepts of good painting….value, color,composition, creating depth, edges, etc. I weave these lessons into my presentations and demos.

• I strive to make my teaching clear and organized. I know that everyone learns best in different ways so I make sure to address all learners with demos, discussions, visual aids and lots of handouts and goodies and finally appropriate guided exercises. We hear, we see and we do.

• Students appreciate an organized and prepared instructor. They also appreciate an instructor who is giving, shares everything and is down to earth. I work hard to be prepared so that I am better able to be spontaneous and work with each student’s individual needs.

WORKSHOP PRACTICES

My Motto:  “Make a Plan…..then Plan to Let Go”

• My goal is to encourage students to paint with their own voice. I find that often students are overwhelmed at the choices for starting a painting so I find that giving them tools to approach a painting in a simple way allows for more expression. I keep it simple.

• I break down the painting process into easy to digest bits beginning with a concept or a ‘why’, a simple black and white thumbnail and a simple block in or underpainting and finally a thought on color choice. Then comes the actual pastel application. The plan…and then letting go.(plein air is approached in the same way with a simple approach to a plein air field study)

• I open each workshop with introductions and a pep talk on how to get the most out of the workshop. I encourage a ‘what if’ attitude and no pressure to perform. We share our individual goals for the workshop.

• I review the agenda so that everyone knows what to expect.

• I begin with a demo. Students then paint.

• I try to introduce two topics and do two demos each day. I like to end each day with a feedback session.

• FEEDBACK. I prefer to offer feedback session rather than critiques. I like to review some ideas for finishing and adding the final spices/marks to a painting. How do we know when we are done and other finishing topics. I also like to ask each artist what successes they had and if they made progress on their goals.