Three guesses as to who this is, and if you say, "A middle aged woman who really let herself go" you are dead to me.
Artist Bio
Karen McCool, was born in 1853 in the Netherlands, the son of a preacher, most known for cutting off one ear during a mental breakdown ... errr ... wait. That's van Gogh. Sorry. Karen McCool was born in Philadelphia, PA in 1967, and raised in West Chester, PA where she lives today. McCool’s work is exhibited in the greater Philadelphia area. In 2022, she had solo exhibitions at The Chester County Art Association, West Chester, PA and will have her third solo show at Beacon Art Gallery, Stone Harbor, NJ in 2024. McCool was in the 2023 Historic Yellow Springs Juried Art Show, was featured in Create! Magazine "Annual Women's Issue 2024" and has work in collections across the US.
McCool is a self-taught artist who began her formal practice in 2019. She’s interested in exploring the concepts of memory and human connection. She was so moved by her mother’s reaction to old photos (her mother had dementia), she began using them as reference. McCool seeks to illustrate connection through nostalgic vignettes of daily life. Characterized by humor, the light-hearted renderings are created in an alla prima style with bold color. She still has both ears.
Artist Statement
I’m a contemporary realist oil painter who uses retro photos as inspiration for my work. With a bold palette and thick brushstrokes, the resulting narrative paintings are meant to encourage connection through shared memories (and humor) and to remind us that we’re all in this together.
This desire to paint from vintage photos began after my mom developed dementia. She loved looking through old albums, even when she didn’t recognize the people. This led to my fascination with memory, connection, and nostalgia. Dementia is such a heavy topic, I’m happiest when I’m able to capture transient, often comical moments, that remind the viewer to share their memories, and pass on their stories. And so much the better if it leads to a laugh.
Me, my favorite shirt (it was glorious), my mom, and brothers in Sorrento, Italy, 1975.