Art & Life with Karen E. Bennett

Today we’d like to introduce you to Karen E. Bennett.

Karen is an Arizona native with a prolific career creating original artwork for interiors of homes, restaurants, valley contractors, auto dealerships, churches and local businesses for over 30 years. Her work ranges in style from ultra-realism to contemporary modern art and is constantly inspired by the subject and rooted in quality.

A graduate of Mesa Community College and Arizona State University, Karen has garnered several awards over her career recognizing her drawing and painted pieces. After finishing her bachelors in fine arts in 1979, Karen worked at Boeing in Seattle and Allied Signal in Phoenix until she launched her own studio Palette of Possibilities in 1986.

Since then, Karen has worked on many commissioned works that highlight her skills and range in style. Her mediums include oil, acrylic, charcoal, pencil and watercolor. Besides work on traditional canvas and walls, Karen has developed a focused ingenuity for a range of surfaces that includes ceilings, floors, furniture and wine cellars. Through that experience she has also developed her eye and hand with faux finishes, applying techniques to disguise the electrical outlets, beams and anything else often found on uncommon surfaces. Karen’s work can be seen throughout the Valley including private homes and many restaurants including La Piñata, Someburros, and Poncho’s Mexican Food & Cantina. Her other talents include portraits of people and or their pets, and caricatures.

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
My artwork ranges in technique when the client commission’s a custom painting. Many times, the client is commissioning that special piece of artwork that fits a certain size and color to complete the interior of their home. Most of my paintings are custom to the needs of the client. I also faux paint electrical outlets to disguise their appearance in stone or tile on the backsplashes of kitchens, baths, bars, etc. I work in a variety of mediums, oil,
acrylic, watercolor, pencil, charcoal and mixed media.

My mission is to create a custom painting for the client/designer that meets their expectations. The interior designer and I collaborate on a design and present the ideas to the client. I am also inspired by each commissioned painting, as they are all different in colors, style, techniques, subject matter and medium. I love the variety and working with the customer to create their own unique painting or drawing.

I specialize in Trompe oil paintings, (trick of the eye). I enjoy painting realistic, but also enjoy the challenges of trying new techniques and developing a creative process to achieve a fabulous outcome. I also paint murals in wine rooms, kid’s rooms, restaurants, dealerships, offices, ceilings and churches. Hand painted furniture is also a common request by clients.

Artists rarely, if ever pursue art for the money. Nonetheless, we all have bills and responsibilities and many aspiring artists are discouraged from pursuing art due to financial reasons. Any advice or thoughts you’d like to share with prospective artists?
Best to have other side jobs to meet your financial needs, but with time and persistence it will pay off in the future.

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
My artwork can be seen throughout the valley in restaurants, dealerships, churches. You can find me under my business name “Palette of Possibilities” and my online portfolio can be viewed at KBPOP.COM You can support my work by commissioning a custom piece of artwork.

#karenbennettartist Instagram
kbennettartist@cox.net
602 -622-0686

Contact Info:

• Website: kbpop.com
• Phone: 602- 622-0686
• Email: kbennettartist@cox.net
• Instagram: @karenbennettartist
• Facebook: Karen Bennett

Image Credit:
Monica Bennett

Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.