Artist Profile - Karen Lewis

Artist Profile - Karen Lewis

This Sunshine State of Mine

Karen Lewis has always had an affinity for Brevard County. She moved here when she was a kid and has grown to love the landmarks the most. The have become very meaningful to her. Consequently, they are the subjects of many of her paintings.

In addition to depicting the landmarks she holds so dear, her paintings and drawings also depict scenes she has encountered that have grabbed her heart. Other subjects that are specialities of hers are orchids, vegetation and I personally remember one sweet kitty that used to hang in the back room of allaprima salon.

Karen graduated from Melbourne High School and left the area for a while after marriage. Then she returned to Eau Gallie to stay. Karen now is the owner of allaprima styling group, a unique beauty salon and art gallery. Her violet walls are covered with her painting and with paintings by fellow artists. She is very generous and good to artists, and her customers love to see their latest creations.

Her son, Paul Christian, is an artist and encouraged Karen to begin art classes She first took classes from Louise Cherwak in pencil drawing. In the 90s she completed 50-pen and ink commissions. They were mostly portraits in those days. When the desire to use color hit her, she began taking watercolor from Charlie Velek. Both teachers and her natural talent took hold as she creates beauty in both mediums.

Karen has had her salon in the Eau Gallie art district for 10 years. When she first moved in, she and Link at Eau Gallie Florist were about the only ones on their end of Highland. Over the years, the area has grown and artists consider it the art district.

Karen thinks of her use of hair coloring as an art form too. She is an expert with it and it reflects her understanding of art. After artists began frequenting the area, she realized that they needed a place to hang their art and offered them her walls.

Karen is very active in the community of artists as she has been on the ArtWorks board for 10 years, and she belongs to and is a founding member of the Strawbridge Art League. She is also a member of the Brevard Art Museum, the Brevard Watercolor Society, and the Florida Watercolor Society.

After Louise Cherwak died, Karen decided to go back to graphite drawing as a tribute to her. She began studying with Jini James and loves what she is doing. Her life goal is to always continue learning.

Karen is pleased to be the featured artist at the Art and Antique Studio and Gallery at 1419 Highland Avenue in Old Eau Gallie. She will exhibit 15 pieces in the show. Ten of them are watercolors and five are graphite drawings. She is calling the show "This Sunshine State of Mine." In the show, she will unveil paintings of her favorite scenes of Florida.

The opening for the show is scheduled for Friday, March 6, 2009, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. It is free and open to the public. Be sure to stop by to meet Karen and to see her beautiful work.

Her work will continue to hang through March 31, 2009. If you would like to contact her about her artwork, call 321-777-4479.