Karen Keys

Watercolor has been my passion for the past 20 years, and fifteen years ago I also picked up pastels and love them also. Now I split my time between the two and enjoy the lessons and challenge from exploring both medium.

I am a representational artist with a goal of pushing the color in my paintings. My vision is to bring the viewer into the scene and to enjoy the beauty of nature. I am inspired by the every day scenes I see in my daily routine. I like to alternate between pastel and watercolor. It keeps me actively engaged as I start my pastel with the darks and I start my watercolors with the lights.

I mostly paint landscapes, but also paint still lives, pet portraits and sometimes abstracts. I like painting plein aire, but usually finish the painting in my studio using a photo or my imagination. I feel like I grow with each painting that I complete and am still exploring all different aspects of the world on paper. Painting adds passion to my life and gives me great comfort and joy. It is my form of meditation.
I am a member of the Folsom Art Association, Sacramento Fine Art Center ( WASH), Placer County Arts Council, California Art Club, Pastel Society of the West Coast, For the Love of Art Gallery and Blue Line Art Gallery.

My most recent award was 2nd place watercolors in the Rocklin Fine Arts Juried Show, 2025