Artospective: Figurative Paintings by Karen Bradley.

Daydreamer.

From the Brush of Karen Bradley.

I am a contemporary realist painter based in Savannah, GA. I have always loved drawing the figure. My background is in Medical illustration, which offered some figurative illustration here and there, but ultimately I wanted more than purely meeting someone else’s objective. I truly loved portraiture and began to study it more seriously than ever about 6 years ago. The more workshops and conventions I attended, the more hope I had that I could make a living out of doing what I love. I would say my driving force is self expression. Most of my models are women because, well, they are beautiful and also I relate best to them. Sometimes I want to paint a face because I can’t stop looking at it and other times it’s a feeling or condition that I want to express.

I do have a 10-month old which has cut way into my painting time. This has changed the way I paint because of all the interruptions and also changed the way I feel about painting. Painting from life is very fulfilling for me… the process and the outcome. Fulfilling my needs seems more important than ever now. So I have scheduled friends to come sit for me every Saturday while my husband can keep the baby. I also am doing a paintings per day for 60 days.These practices are to keep me going even when it feels like too much work. Posting to social media helps keep me accountable and connected to my artist friends. It also can be an advertising tool, I suppose.

I have a solo show coming up in April which will be figurative in subject matter with focus on the human condition and intimacy, and a lack there of. This topic interests me so much and I look forward to diving into it.

I’ve placed my bio below for a little more on what and why I paint.

Karen Bradley is a contemporary figurative realist oil painter based in Savannah, GA. Her paintings focus on portraiture and figurative subject matter. Her inspiration comes primarily from people she encounters, their expressive qualities and patterns of light and shadow that reveal them. Karen’s works are honest visual interpretations of her experiences as she perceives them.

Karen has participated in several solo and group exhibitions, and her figurative paintings have won numerous awards including first place and Best of Show. Her work is featured in numerous private and public collections.

Karen’s artistic career began in Medical Illustration. She served as a Foundations Faculty member for several years at the Savannah College of Art and Design. Her passion for the human figure drove her to pursue greater education in figurative painting. Karen studied at the Art Student’s League of New York as well as Studio Incamminati of Philadelphia and has worked with many established artists such as Joseph Todorovitch, Max Ginsberg, and Robert Liberace. She is an active member of the Oil Painters of America and The Portrait Society of America.