Today we’d like to introduce you to Karen Fontenot.
Hi Karen, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
A native of Southwest Louisiana, I moved to Houston in the 90s and settled into a career in the Oil and Gas E&P sector of the city’s vital energy industry.
My interest in oil painting piqued in earnest in the spring of 2010 when I attended the opening of the Audrey Jones Beck building at Houston’s Museum of Fine Arts. A week or so later, I joined a group of Houston area painters under the tutelage of Candace Tangney that continues to this day. When my geotechnical career ended, I started marketing my art and participating in exhibits in Houston and Lake Charles, Louisiana. Requests for commissions followed eventually. After a number of years, a pretty generous portfolio of seascapes, nature, portraiture, and a minor portion of abstracts exists today. It is a delight to have pieces that I’ve done grace the walls and desks of relatives and friends.
In the summer of 2023, I endeavored to share publicly what I’ve come to glean from a life of Bible study, five years of managing a Bible bookstore in Louisiana, and a strong family legacy of faith in Christ with anyone who would listen with the launch of the ‘Genesis On Tuesday’ podcast! After three years, we’ve completed 48 of the 50 Chapters and it has truly been a life changing adventure! I’m constantly amazed by the analytics which reflect the places people tune in from. At latest count, the number of countries stand at more than 35. God is Good!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Don’t think too much about expectations. Give your best to each piece you work on and every event in which you participate. Enjoy the journey and especially the people!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I paint with oils and acrylics in a style that can be best described as classic or traditional, that is to say, the pieces tend towards nature, land and sea scapes, and portraiture. We tend to be inspired by what we see and there isn’t a larger canvas than the natural world! Another motivator is to paint pieces of places you visit; and a good bit of my work reflects that. My favorite subjects of all are my family and anything Bible-themed. Ultimately, art is a reflection of who one is more than anything else. The abundance of vibrant colors in my pieces, I hope, speaks to a joy and appreciation for every day!
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Not rushing, but working until the piece (or podcast as the case may be) is a quality product…even if you must start over again. And yet again! Perseverance is essential.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.karenfontenot.com
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/5viNXDHOZH8jomKS1LNkmz?si=c3737a3e23f548be
