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| Resume |
| Galleries |
| Awards |
| Sublime |
| Studios |
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MACK
BIOGRAPHY
| Resume |
| Galleries |
| Awards |
| Sublime |
| Studios |
| Classes |
MACK
BIOGRAPHY
| Resume |
| Galleries |
| Awards |
| Sublime |
| Studios |
| Classes |
MACK
BIOGRAPHY
| Resume |
| Galleries |
| Awards |
| Sublime |
| Studios |
| Classes |
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|
BIOGRAPHY
Article by: Charlotte Berney
Karol Mack is widely recognized as one of the
foremost interpreters of the Western landscape. Her oil paintings
evoke the essence and beauty of the natural world as only a master
of painting can do. The special magic of Karol's work is
communicated through light, color and her own unique vision.
Karol Mack finds her muse in the rugged natural settings of the
Western United States. Her paintings range from large renderings of
the majestic Rocky Mountains to intimate vignettes of aspen groves,
winding streams, waterfalls, and meadows. The American landscape is
both her delight and her inheritance.
Born in Scott City, Kansas, Karol comes from pioneer stock going
back to Colorado's territorial period. Her family lived in various
western states before settling in a small farming and ranching
community in Morgan County, Colorado. The land consists of rolling
plains and prairies.
“Growing up in Colorado,” Karol says, “I spent more time outdoors
than indoors.” The family vacationed in Estes Park, Colorado, 90
miles from her home and gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park.
This spectacular area left an indelible imprint on Karol. “I was
drawn to the amazing features of this landscape-the bodies of water,
the rocky outcroppings, the snowcapped peaks- which are such a
contrast to the plains. I love the tall trees and meadows, the
shade, the shadows.” Her first painting at age 9 was of Mount Meeker
in Rocky Mountain National Park.
It was only natural that Karol would hone her style in the shadow of
the mountains as a plein air painter. She says, “I love being
outdoors. You have to be in the landscape to be in touch with it.
You need to study the light, feel the air, experience the wholeness
of the place.” The challenges of plein air painting include swiftly
changing light and weather, the rigors of transporting materials,
and encounters with wild animals.
Karol likes painting in early morning and late evening to capture
the special effects of light. She paints in all seasons and says, “I
love spring in the Rockies, with those fragile, bright greens and
the snow that lingers in the mountain crevices. In autumn, there are
the rich colors, and in winter, snow glittering in sunshine.”
“Light is the most important element to me,” she says, “and Western
light is different from that in other parts of the world. The light
of the West has deep contrasts, and it changes very quickly.”
Working on location involves field studies, sketches and
photography. She sometimes produces finished works on the spot, and
she utilizes her studies to create larger works in the studio.
Why does Karol Mack paint landscape? “I want viewers to experience
the peace that nature gives. We spend so much time indoors now, and
we need remembrances of the beauties of the natural world. I would
like my work to offer quiet reflections on what nature is and does.”
In venerating nature in art, Karol Mack's paintings recall the
Hudson River School artists of the mid-19th century. Landscape
painters like Thomas Cole, Frederic Church, Albert Bierstadt and
Thomas Moran sought to capture the sublime in the magnificent
wilderness areas of an emerging nation. Their works elicit feelings
of awe and reverence for God's creation, a response familiar to
viewers of Karol Mack's paintings.
A versatile artist, Karol enjoys portraying the adobe architecture
of Northern New Mexico, a region she has called home for 18 years.
Of Scottish descent, Karol travels frequently to Scotland and enjoys
painting Scottish landscape, castles and architecture.
This modern master has received recognition and acclaim throughout
her career. Karol is a Signature Member of the Oil Painters of
America and received the organization's Award of Excellence in 2002.
Karol has exhibited with the American Artists Professional League at
the Salmagundi Club in New York since 2000, when she was awarded the
Director's Choice Award. She is an Artist Member of the American
Plains Artists.
Recognizing the need for an organization devoted to painting in the
West, Karol conceived and helped found the Rocky Mountain Plein Air
Painters in 2000 and has been active in that group ever since.
Karol has exhibited extensively across the country in major museums,
galleries and shows, and her art is found in collections world-wide.
Articles about her have appeared in numerous national/international
magazines.
Today, Karol divides her time between her studios in Northern New
Mexico and Estes Park, Colorado, while traveling extensively to
participate in plein air events around the country. Desiring to
share her knowledge, she conducts painting classes and seminars.
As consummate landscape artist, Karol Mack continues to share her
mastery of the medium, her love of the Western land, and her
artistic vision.
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BOOK
Karol Mack:
The History, The Sublime,
The Paintings. $34.99
Fall River Pass
15" x 30" oil
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Private Collection
Endo Valley
Aspens II
20" x 16" oil
Artist's Collection
Alberta Falls,
Rocks
10" x 8" oil
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Private Collection
Acequia Madre
Lilacs
12" x 16" oil
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Private Collection
Returning
Home
12" x 12" oil
Sanctuary of Secrets
Collection
Ringlet
Butterfly
10" x 8" oil
Sanctuary of Secrets
Collection
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