Bio   
Karen Hewitt Hagan

   
Photo by: Wanda Johnson    

"She has an innate sense of color and composition and when it is coupled with 
the way she handles the media, magic occurs." 
  --- Quote from Theresa Golas, Director of The Iredell Museums (Statesville, NC)  published in  American Art Collector Magazine, August 06

From The Artist
"The Southern Landscape - I see it as a quickly changing canvas.  Most precious and yet the most exploited. I'm most inspired by the pristine coastal landscapes that lace between our barrier islands and the sea. It's where I feel most at home with my easel. And I'm very intrigued by the change that is happening around this area so quickly. 

Some of my favorite subjects are the unspoiled areas on the rustic edges of rural life.  I view our coastal landscape in the South with mixed feelings as development embraces and eschews conservation and natural resource preservation,  all they while still developing. 

My vision of the South through my painter's eye is a double image, one of richness in heritage of unspoiled lands, long marsh views, freshly turned fields, pristine beaches and wilderness abounding, paired with the access to this richness through newly developed marinas, home sites and neighborhoods that fringe these areas.

My work encompasses both the old and the new. I love nothing more than painting the quite marsh-lands or a field in new bloom but I'm also inspired by the  "progress"  that surrounds these areas - the marinas and the majestic homes perched on high grounds. They intersect yet dissect. Coincide yet conflict.  Many of my favorite paintings were painted on site, as I "trespassed" undetected on someone else's land but many many  more are from perches inside the areas newly developed; areas I would not have seen or have been granted access to if the builders had not been there before me.

It's my passion to paint these areas...preserving yesterday's and tomorrow's view  - one canvas at a time."

 

About 
Hagan’s paintings offer a  compelling combination of dramatic light and rugged beauty.   Favorite subjects include pristine coastal landscapes,  boats drenched in sunlight,  soulful dancers and romantic nudes.  

Hagan has studied traditional methods of painting and drawing with many notable contemporary master artists as well as studied the works of inspirational historical painters including John Singer Sargent, Emile Gruppe, Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida, and Edgar Alwin Payne.

Her painterly style has developed over the last fifteen years, steeped in tradition but unique and completely her own. "Capturing the feeling or  mood of a place is my highest goal.  It's my chance to combine the essence of drawing, composition and color application skills to share the strong emotion that lead me to paint the subject."

Karen has continued her training, drawing the figure in charcoal in the classical traditional method from life size plaster casts and drawing and painting  nude figures and costumed dancers from live models and from backstage photo sessions during live performances as well as painting out of doors, en plein air .  “Nature is truly the best teacher.” 

Hagan’s paintings hang in numerous private, corporate and yacht collections in the US and abroad including  The Sanctuary Resort at Kiawah Island, SC.  Her accomplishments include having her  work exhibited in  many invitational exhibitions and juried shows including  the Carmel Plein Air Painting Competition in Carmel California and she was presented with the Award of Excellence at the COPA Plein Air Painting Annual in Charleston, SC. 

Her work was featured in a one woman exhibition in 2006 at the Iredell Museums, Statesville NC and 
at with the Hickory Museum of Art in Hickory NC in 2009.  

A long time resident of Charleston SC and an avid traveler with a passion for the open waters, Hagan and her husband are currently restoring and living aboard a 53-foot boat  and  split their time painting in  and along the coastal villages of the East Coast of the US and the Bahama Islands. 

Hagan was a founding member of both the Charleston Outdoor Painters Association (COPA) and The Plein Air 
Painters of The Southeast (PAP-SE).  She teaches plein air painting in Italy, The Abacos, France and in the US.


Education
Bachelor or Arts: College of Journalism, The University of South Carolina, Columbia SC, 1983

Gibbes Museum Studio School, Charleston SC
Scottsdale Artist School / Offsite Vermont Class
Armory Arts Center; W. Palm Beach, FL
Independent Workshops across the US

Formal Workshops,  Individual Instruction or Critique
Kim English, Dennis Aufiery, Gay Falulkenbery, John Budicin, George Strickland, John Carroll Doyle, Lynn Gertenbach, Kenn Backhaus, Charles Sovek, Lese Corigan, Martin Ahrens.

Professional Affiliations
Signature Member of Plein Air Painters of The Southeast
Associate Member Oil Painters of America
A Founding Member Charleston Outdoor Painters Association, COPA
Past member of The American Impressionist Society
Past Member of The Abaco Artist Guild

Selected Press 

Caterpillar Art Blog - October 2009     
Post and Courier Newspaper - July 2008 Feature for Artistic Reflections Show

Coastal Living Magazine, October 2007- Art on The Docks  
Lowcountry Living Magazine, July/August 2007- Feature Article

American Art Collector  Magazine - August 2006 - Feature Article on Museum Show
American Art Collector  Magazine - July  2006 - Collectable Marine Artists
Plein Air Magazine, Studio Visit Feature - September 2006 

Galleries & Artists of The South – 7/2005
Post and Courier Newspaper - PREVIEW - 6/2004

SKIRT Magazine- 3/02 Cover Artist
Art & Antiques Magazine – 4/01-Carmel Art Festival Plein Air Painting Article Inclusion
Post & Courier Newspaper -3/02 - "Ready" publication
Post & Courier Newspaper - 5/01-Carmel Art Festival Plein Air Painting Article
SKIRT Magazine - 5/01-Spoleto Festival & Anonymous Nights Series Pictorial
Hilton Head Island Packet – Exhibit Review
Savannah Morning News – Show Review
Connect Savannah - Show Review

Selected Honors & Shows
Southeastern Wildlife Exhibition, Charleston SC 2010
Landscape The Continuum, City Art Gallery, Greenville 2010
One Man Show with The Hickory Museum of Art, Hickory NC 2009
One Man Show; Iredell Museums, Statesville NC 2006
Award of Excellence: COPA Paint Out; 2004
Honorable Mention Award: COPA Paint Out; 2004
Merit Award: Piccolo Spoleto: 2002
Florence Museum Silver Anniversary Exhibition, 2002 
Honorable Mention Award: Juried Exhibition Spoleto USA: 
Carmel Art Festival Plein Air Painting Competition, Carmel, California
Best and The Brightest Show, 2001 - Scottsdale, Arizona

Invitational, Juried Exhibitions & Gallery Shows

2010: Southeastern Wildlife Exhibition, Charleston SC  (upcoming)
2010: Landscape The Continuum, City Art Gallery, Greenville NC  (upcoming)
2010: Piccolo Spoleto, Charleston SC (upcoming)

2009: Piccolo Spoleto, Charleston SC
2009: Southesastern Wildlife & Charleston Artist Guild 
2009: Hickory Museum of Art, Hickory NC

2008: Piccolo Spoleto, Charleston, SC
2008: Anderson Gallery, St. Simons Island, SC PAP-SE Exhibition
2008: Artistic Reflections, Ella Walton Richardson Fine Art Gallery
2008: Great Catch Art Show, Figure 8 Island/ Tyler White Gallery NC
2008: April Vista Walk,  I Pinkney Simmons Gallery, Columbia, SC

2007: Colors of Summer, City Art Gallery, Greenville NC
2007: Pallet to Pallet Stroll, Ella Walton Richardson Fine Art, Charleston, SC
2007: Abaco Beach Resort Show, Abaco, Bahamas
2007: Small Works Show, Planet Bronze Gallery, Bozeman, Montana

2006: Summer Salon of Travelscapes, City Art Gallery, Greenville, NC
2006: Tuscan Nights, Studio W, Boone NC
2006 :Iredell Museum, Statesville, NC July 2006: One Woman Show
2006: American Heart Assn. Fine Art & Wine Gala  & Auction; Live Auction Artist
2006: Anderson Fine Art Gallery : PAP-SE Spring Exhibition (upcoming 4/06)
2006: Featured artist for Ella Walton Richardson Fine Art /CFADA Sanctuary Winter Art Show

2005: Bank United Two Woman Show, West Palm Beach, FL
2005: CFADA Demo & Auction Benefit: Charleston, SC 
2005: Featured at The Conch Pearl Gallery, Marsh Harbour Abaco
2005: The Land, The Sea & The Figure: City Art Gallery, Greenville, NC
2005: Quinlan Visual Art Center: PASP-SE Southern Light: Gainesville, GA
2005: Abaco Inn Fine Art Show: Hope Town, Abaco
2005: Abaco Beach Resort Fine Art Exhibition: Marsh Harbour, Abaco  
2005: Charleston Garden Festival, Charleston SC

2004: A Moment in Time Two Woman Show - Ella Richardson Fine Art
2004: Charleston Fine Art Dealers Demo & Auction: Charleston, SC
2004: Anderson Fine Art PAP-SE Fall Exhibition
2004: Maritime Festival Fine Art Exhibition: Charleston, SC
2004: COPA Plein Air Paint Out and Exhibition: Charleston, SC
2004: Anne Irwin Summer Salon, Atlanta, GA
2004: At One's Pleasure, 2 Woman Show w/ Martha Sharp: MUSC, Charleston, SC
2004: In Honor of Johnny Mercer - Fine Art Exhibit: Savannah, GA
2004: Art for Dance Featured Artist, Charleston, SC

2003, 2002, 2001 and prior
Charleston Fine Art Dealers Paint Out & Auction Annual Event
Carmel Art Assoc. Plein Air Painting Competition, Carmel, CA
Southern Exposure 2 Woman Show, Ella Richardson Fine Art, Charleston, SC
Landfall Foundation Paint Out: Fountainside Gallery, Wilmington, NC
Spring Salon: Anne Irwin Fine Art, Atlanta, GA
Summer Salon & Small Works Winter Show; Anne Irwin Fine Art, Atlanta, GA
Landscape The Continuum - City Art Gallery, Greenville, NC
Boca Raton Museum of Fine Art Annual Spring Exhibition, Boca Raton Florida
Gibbes Museum of Art Spring House Tour at Kiawah Island,  SC 
First Union One Woman Exhibit, Charleston, SC 
One Woman Show; Working Boats - Bothwell Gallery, Savannah, GA
Designer Show House, Charleston, SC
Designer Show House, Beaufort, SC  

Selected Corporate Collections
The Island House at Seabrook Island SC
Hatteras Yachts, NC
First Citizens Bank NC
The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island, SC
Motor Yacht Paul-n-Jane
Motor Yacht for Great Guana Beach Club, Bahamas
The Villages at Wild Dunes Resort, Isle of Palms SC
The Island House at Seabrook Island

US Representation:
Ella Walton Richardson Fine Art Gallery; Charleston, SC
City Art Gallery; Greenville, NC
Stellers Fine Art; Jacksonville Locations (2)

Foreign Representation:
The Conch Pearl Gallery
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Contact Information:
Studio Phone: 843-754-0494 
Studio at 55 Broad Street,  Suite 100, Charleston SC 29401
Email

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Studio at 55 Broad Street, Upstairs at Suite 100, Charleston SC  
Welcome by appointment or chance                     843.754.0494                       Charleston Art Tours                               

 All Images c Karen Hagan 2000-2010