Waimea Community Education

Karen Alexander

I earned my degree in Fine Arts from Virginia Commonwealth University, my major was painting and printmaking. I continued working in oils and pen and ink, winning awards in juried exhibitions. One of my pieces was accepted in the Virginia Museum of Arts annual Artist of Virginia Show in Richmond, Virginia.

I relocated to Hawaii in 1982 with the idea of enjoying the beaches and making art in oils and pen and ink. In 2004 I found that I wasn’t getting what I wanted out of either medium and discovered soft pastels. I was instantly hooked on pastels as the results are immediate, forgiving and the colors glorious. I now work with pastels exclusively when painting. They lend themselves well to indicating the effects of light on the landscape and still life setups which are my favorite subjects.

My pastels have received honors in the Pastel Artists of Hawaii, and the Artist of Hawaii juried competitions on Oahu and the Pacific International Pastel Society.
I have taken workshops to improve my skills from the following professionals:

Kitty Wallis
Terry Ludwig
Desmond O’Hagan
Richard McKinley

I am currently a member of the Pastel Artists of Hawaii. I currently paint weekly with the Kohala Plein Air Painters, and also have a membership in the Waimea Arts Council.

I have taught private lessons in drawing and soft pastels; it’s a joy for me to share a technique that is so rewarding.

Classes Taught by Instructor:

Basic Drawing for Beginners