Today we’d like to introduce you to Karen Woodward.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
That’s an excellent question! I’d say that I definitely grew up in an artistic household. My mom always signed me up for art classes since I very young age and we always had an “art room” in the house where we could create. My dad was a neuroscientist and my mom played the piano, so the best way to say it is that other than a lot of interesting conversations and music, there was a lot of weirdness which provided endless inspiration for creative activity. By the time I went to college at UT Austin, I had developed a lot of different interests but I decided to major in Art History.
My area of specialization was Ancient Near Eastern Art, and I remember being completely fascinated by Sumerian votive statues. Then, my very last semester in school, I decided to sign up for a three-dimensional design course. I absolutely loved it. I learned how to build large structures, use power tools, design, and construct. It seemed like the possibilities were endless. After I graduated, I moved to Houston and continued with sculpture courses at the Glassell School of Art. I had a day job as a research assistant at the medical school and took sculpture classes at night. After a few years at Glassell, my husband encouraged me to pursue my passion and return to school.
I earned a Masters in Fine Arts in Sculpture from Washington University, and afterward, I decided to teach sculpture and art. As luck would have it again, towards the end of my coursework in grad school I decided to sign up for a glass fusing class at the Craft Alliance Education Center in St. Louis. I had a side project making jewelry and I wanted to learn how to make glass cabochons. Instead of the fusing class, I accidentally signed up for the wrong class, which was flameworked glass and bead making. Within 6 months, I was teaching the class, and over the next 10 years, I was an instructor, faculty, and eventually, Chair of the Glass Department at the Craft Alliance. Eventually, my family and I moved back to Texas and here I am! Today, I have a studio at Canopy in Austin and a small hot shop at my home.
Please tell us about your art.
I have been creating colorful sculptures and unique character portraits from glass for nearly 20 years. Mental states, states of being, and the experience of daily life are themes that interest me the most. I have two main series of work. The first, collectively titled the Effigy Series, is an ongoing collection of individual glass sculptures. These are gems like sculptures with a wide range of personality, attitude, and expression. While some characters appear comical and ridiculous, others appear more introspective. When these sculptures are displayed in a narrative group or installation they take on new meaning as they relate to one another. In my latest series, Dreamscapes, I combine light, sculptural forms, and delightfully fun characters into magical, neurological landscapes.
I can definitely say that after a lifetime of conversations about the brain, biology, and behavior, with my dad (the neuroscientist) and my husband (a psychiatrist) that these topics of discussion have influenced my work. If there is one message people can learn from viewing my work, it’s that art does not need to appear serious to be meaningful.
What do you think about conditions for artists today? Has life become easier or harder for artists in recent years? What can cities like ours do to encourage and help art and artists thrive?
My favorite quote on work, life, and success in general: “I couldn’t wait for success, so I went ahead without it.”
-Jonathan Winters.
I feel that as an artist today it is important to always keep learning and growing. Take classes. Do studio visits with other artists. Keep showing your work everywhere you can, whether it be in an underground warehouse or a traditional gallery. Keep putting yourself out there. Enter shows. Keep working and don’t ever stop. Always think about your current project, and what you will be working on next. Failure is the best teacher. Be a creative entrepreneur and invent your own destiny. One of the most important messages I give to my students is that it is the job of the artist to put something beautiful into the world, whatever that might be. At times the world can be a dark and ugly place, so the most important thing an artist can do is to add something beautiful.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
In Houston, work from my Dreamscape series will be on view at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft for the Craft Texas Biennial, September 29, 2018, through January 6, 2019. In Austin, people can view my solo show, Dreamscapes, at Paris in a Bite Gallery through September 30. Another great time to see my work is during the East Austin Studio Tour, this November 10 – 11 and 17 – 18. I also show my work at Art for the People Gallery in Austin and at my Canopy studio by appointment.
Contact Info:
- Address: Canopy Studio Building 1 studio #107
916 Springdale Rd. Austin, TX 78702 - Website: www.KarenWoodwardStudios.com
- Email: woodwardglass@hotmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kewoodwa/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarenWoodwardStudios/
Image Credit:
Karen Woodward
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