Karen Clarkson: Choctaw

Spirit Guide with Custom Frame

My inspiration for this piece came while reading "Ritual of the Wind", by Jamake Highwater: "You must learn to look at the world twice. First you must bring your eyes together in front so you can see each droplet of rain on the grass, so you can see the smoke rising from an ant hill in the sunshine. Nothing should escape your notice. But you must learn to look again, with your eyes at the very edge of what is visible. Now you must see dimly if you wish to see things that are dim—visions, mist, and cloud people...animals which hurry past you in the dark. You must learn to look at the world twice if you wish to see all that there is to see." I believe this is my best work to date - this piece took me months to complete and is extremely detailed.

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click pic for close-up

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As a Native American and a member of the Choctaw Nation I have a great affection for Native American art and culture. I grew up surrounded by art from all over the world but never found the perfect blend of beauty and spiritual expression until I saw my first Native American portrait. Although my primary works are those of Native Americans I also create works in still life and landscape as well as portraits in other genres. Being a self-taught artist has encouraged me to experiment with several types of expression although I keep coming back to the human form. There is something about the eyes!

I am currently living in California where my most recent works have focused on native cultures of the southwest. I am a member of the National Registry of Native American Artists and a registered Choctaw artist. Although I have been a professional artist for a limited number of years I have been accepted into numerous competitions and won several awards. In 2005 I won first place for my graphite drawing in the internationally acclaimed Conservatory Art Classic competition. The world should be seen out of the corner of one's eyes…. allowing one's self to enter into the world of ritual and ceremony! Thank you for your interest in my art and may you walk in beauty.

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