About the ARTWORK
My artwork is about telling a story. Her Story.
If you find yourself drawn (*snort*, punny) to my artwork, I imagine that you love stories like I do: perhaps you are an avid reader, or even a writer. Some of your favorite books as children (or perhaps still as an adult) contained myths, fairytales or folktales with magical illustrations. The description "creepy-beautiful" totally makes sense to you. Archetypes, the Divine Feminine, Womens' Empowerment or the Feminine Psyche are subjects that fascinate you.
If you find yourself drawn (*snort*, punny) to my artwork, I imagine that you love stories like I do: perhaps you are an avid reader, or even a writer. Some of your favorite books as children (or perhaps still as an adult) contained myths, fairytales or folktales with magical illustrations. The description "creepy-beautiful" totally makes sense to you. Archetypes, the Divine Feminine, Womens' Empowerment or the Feminine Psyche are subjects that fascinate you.
My artwork explores the themes of the Feminine Experience in different story-scapes, whether it’s a mixed media garden, a gothic romance novel cover, or a simple portrait of a woman from a by-gone era. The style has been described as mysterious, evocative, dreamy, romantic, lush, thought provoking, expressive, soulful, and brooding (really! I asked!). Through symbolism and an illustrative art making style, each image is truly worth a thousand words.
-->> I also accept commissions for book illustrations or unique mixed media portraits either of past or current family members - human or animal - as well as what I call “Era Portraits”, where you can choose what time and place you would like to be painted in.<--
-->> I also accept commissions for book illustrations or unique mixed media portraits either of past or current family members - human or animal - as well as what I call “Era Portraits”, where you can choose what time and place you would like to be painted in.<--
About the ARTIST
~Nevertheless, She Artisted
Karin and Lulu, 2009
As early as 3rd Grade, with a passion for both books and drawing, it was clear to me by that time that I would grow up to be either a librarian or an artist.
I especially loved folk and fairytales and Greek Myths, and the illustrations that went along with them. My earliest drawings were almost always of princesses- and my inner feminist used to cringe but I’m totally owning that now.
The beginning of my artistic career started with a BA in Illustration and Design, but after the birth of my daughter in 2007 I realized my true calling was to tell my OWN stories with my OWN artwork. Having a baby leads to ruthless prioritizing.
The twin callings of books and drawing are still present today in both my process and in the themes my work explores - the core theme revolving around the Feminine Experience and exploring the Feminine Psyche. I love to research and learn about my subject or theme, and then create pictures that tell or evoke stories. My semi-repressed librarian brings to my work echoes of fairy tale and fantasy, pays homage to gothic romance and mystery, and often contains a thread of the supernatural. Myths, Archetypes, Ancient Symbols, Psychology, Spirituality, and the Divine Feminine are also rich resources for my paintings.
My work utilizes and is inspired by the techniques of Traditional Icon Writing and Byzantine Artwork, created with acrylic paint and mixed media. My current artistic process begins by sifting through vintage photographs to discover images of women to serve as models. I then place my “model” in whatever world or portrait I fancy, using the original image as a jumping off point for telling the particular story my heart wants to express. I embellish my images with a variety of found objects: ephemera, vintage paper and fabric, bits of nature, etc.
I especially loved folk and fairytales and Greek Myths, and the illustrations that went along with them. My earliest drawings were almost always of princesses- and my inner feminist used to cringe but I’m totally owning that now.
The beginning of my artistic career started with a BA in Illustration and Design, but after the birth of my daughter in 2007 I realized my true calling was to tell my OWN stories with my OWN artwork. Having a baby leads to ruthless prioritizing.
The twin callings of books and drawing are still present today in both my process and in the themes my work explores - the core theme revolving around the Feminine Experience and exploring the Feminine Psyche. I love to research and learn about my subject or theme, and then create pictures that tell or evoke stories. My semi-repressed librarian brings to my work echoes of fairy tale and fantasy, pays homage to gothic romance and mystery, and often contains a thread of the supernatural. Myths, Archetypes, Ancient Symbols, Psychology, Spirituality, and the Divine Feminine are also rich resources for my paintings.
My work utilizes and is inspired by the techniques of Traditional Icon Writing and Byzantine Artwork, created with acrylic paint and mixed media. My current artistic process begins by sifting through vintage photographs to discover images of women to serve as models. I then place my “model” in whatever world or portrait I fancy, using the original image as a jumping off point for telling the particular story my heart wants to express. I embellish my images with a variety of found objects: ephemera, vintage paper and fabric, bits of nature, etc.
Random Fun Facts about the ARTIST
- I was born in N. St. Paul MN, but grew up in Seattle Washington.
- My father was from Norway, and part of my heart belongs to the land of fjords, fjells, and fiske.
- I am a certified aromatherapist, but not practicing.
- I have a condition called "General Anxiety Disorder", but who doesn't these days?
- I rowed crew from the age of 27 to the age of 32.
- My first dog family member as an adult was a majestic and otherworldly creature, an Irish Wolfhound, named Oskar
- I run a shared studio space, Blueschool Arts, that currently houses 8 other artists and has a magical space for making stuff and displaying our work.
- I'm a blusher. It was worse as a child, thankfully.
- I was voted "Most Artistic" in High School, but I secretly would've preferred "Best Legs"
- Superpowers I wish I had: the ability to sing, dance and play all instruments really well and the ability to speak all languages, including all species of the animal kingdom.
-->> Scroll down for the official like Resume
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Other places to find me....
Facebook: http://facebook.com/KarinOriginalArt
Instagram: @karinbolstadart
Twitter: @karinbolstadart
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/kboscho
Email: karin@karinbolstad.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/KarinOriginalArt
Instagram: @karinbolstadart
Twitter: @karinbolstadart
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/kboscho
Email: karin@karinbolstad.com
Résumé
Education
2015
Introduction to Renaissance Egg Tempera, Gage Fine Art Academy, Seattle WA
2014
Repoussage, Icon Arts, Austin TX
2012
How to Write a Christian Icon and Repoussage, Icon Arts, Greve Italy
2011
How to Write a Christian Icon, Gage Fine Art Academy, Seattle WA
Introduction to Collage, Pratt Fine Arts Center, Seattle WA
2009-2010
Color Theory Bootcamp and How to Build a Body of Work, Pratt Fine Arts Center, Seattle WA
2002 - 2003
Printmaking Bootcamp I + II, Sev Shoon Printmaking Studio, Seattle WA
2001-02
MA in Psychology Pre-requisite program, Marylhurst University, Lake Oswego OR
MA in Psychology Pre-requisite program, Antioch University, Seattle WA
Theories of Personality, Abnormal Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Intro to Art Therapy (was accepted to both Universities to start the Masters program in Art Therapy.)
1995-2001
Variety of courses through the School of Visual Concepts, Seattle WA
Illustration, Intro to Illustrator 10, Dreamweaver in a Day, Portfolio Websites, Intro to HTML, Intro to Dreamweaver
1990-1994
BA in Illustration/Graphic Design, Western Washington University, Bellingham WA
Select Solo and Group Exhibitions:
2018
January: "All The World is a Stage" Group Show, Museo Gallery, Langley WA
2017
December: Port Clinton Holiday Makers Tour, Clinton WA
September: REPRISE: Original Hits by Orignal Artists, Good Arts Building, Seattle WA
August: Whidbey Island Working Artists Studio Tour, Blueschool Arts, Clinton WA
August: Forgeries at Frogwell, Frogwell Gardens Freeland WA
May: Original Hits by Original Artists, Good Arts Building, Seattle WA
2016
August: Whidbey Island Studio Tour, Blueschool Arts, Clinton WA
July: 100 under 100, '57 Biscayne Group Show, Seattle WA
May/June: Two Bells Tavern, Seattle WA
April: Spring Cleaning Studio Sale (group), Blueschool Arts, Clinton WA
2015
December: Whidbey Island Center for the Arts, Langley WA
September '15 - January '16: Iconography Group Show, Ida Culver House, Seattle WA
August: Whidbey Island Studio Tour, Blueschool Arts, Clinton WA
July-August: The Chiropractic Zone Healing Center, Langley WA
March: Blueschool Arts Opening Gala and Gallery Show (group), Blueschool, Clinton WA
Women of Whidbey (WOW) Artist Reception (group), Whidbey Island Center for the Arts, Langley WA
2014
October - June 2015: The Gatewood Bed & Breakfast, West Seattle Art Walk, Seattle WA
July-September: Prima Bistro, Langley, WA
March: Sparkman Co-work Space, Langley, WA
2013
October: Group Show “Dreaming”, Brackenwood Gallery, Langley WA
June: Bayview Cash Store/Handsome Framer, Langley WA
2012
December: Home for the Holidays Group Show, Rob Schouten Gallery, Greenbank WA
August: Group Show: Karin Bolstad and Dan Freeman, Rob Schouten Gallery, Greenbank WA
May: Birds + Nests: The Art of Spring Group Show, Rob Schouten Gallery, Greenbank WA
2011
Oct/Nov/Dec: Prima Bistro, Langley WA
May/June: Beck’s Hair Artistry, Langley WA
January/February: Island Framery, Clinton WA
2010
August/September: Café Lati, Seattle WA
May/June: Café Lulu, Seattle WA
April: Café Dharwin, Seattle WA
March: Caffe Vita Pioneer Square, Seattle WA (participated in First Thursday Artwalk)
January/February: Caffe Vita Capitol Hill, Seattle WA
2009
November/December: Caffe Ladro Union, Seattle WA
April/May: Caffe Ladro Fremont, Seattle WA
January/February: Caffe Ladro Capitol Hill, Seattle WA
2008
December: Café Dharwin, Seattle WA
October/November: Caffe Vita Queen Anne, Seattle WA
September: Hilltop Yarn, Seattle WA
July/August: Caffe Vita Fremont, Seattle WA
2007
November: Both Ways Café, Seattle WA
July/August: Caffe Ladro Bothell, Bothell WA
March/April: Caffe Vita Capitol Hill, Seattle WA
2006
December ‘06/February ’07: Bizzarro Italian Café, Seattle WA
August/September: Caffe Ladro Lower Queen Anne, Seattle WA
July: Frame Up Studios, Seattle WA
June: Shakti Vinyasa Yoga Studio and Gallery, Seattle WA
2003
November: Group Show, Holiday Art, City Lites Neon, Seattle WA
August: Group Show, Rosette Inc, Seattle WA
May: “The Ladies Attitude” Group Show, Gardens and Sunspaces Gallery, Duvall, WA
2002
November: Group Show, Holiday Art, Creative Legacy Art Studio, Renton WA
November: Student Show, Sev Shoon Art Center, Seattle WA
June: Group Show, The Rose Club, Seattle WA
February: A Salon and Day Spa, Seattle WA
2001
November: “Altares” Group Show, Phinney Neighborhood Association, Seattle WA
October: South End Open Studio Tour, Seattle WA
1997
November: Cedar River Brewing Company, Renton WA
June: Plenty Fine Foods, Seattle WA
Work Experience
2014-Present
Headmistress, Blueschool Arts (http://blueschoolarts.com)
2002-2005
Shipping Manager, In-house Designer/Illustrator, The Herbalist, Seattle WA
2000-2001
Executive Assistant, In-house Designer/Illustrator, Ummelina International Day Spa, Seattle WA
1998-2000
Instructional Assistant, Before and Afterschool Program (includes arts program), T.T. Minor Elementary School, Seattle WA
1995-present
Freelance Illustrator/Designer
Clients: Woodland Park Zoo- Illustrations; All the Best Pet Care- Illustrations; Pasta & Co. Downtown- Signage; InterUrban Bakery- Signage; Plenty Fine Foods- Signage; Cedar River Brewing Company- Mural; The Herbalist- Graphic Design and Illustrations; Ummelina International Day Spa- Graphic Design and Illustrations; Petaline.net - Identity and Website; Bouncing Wall Boutique- Website; Two 9 Design Interiors- Identity and Website; Object|Space Architects- Identity; 345 Builders- Identity; Shelly Mazzanoble- Author Website; Conibear Rowing Club- Illustrations; Uncle Dan’s Studio- Photography Blog; Katja Fritzche- Fine Artist Business Cards; Danny Perkins- Fine Artist Business Cards; Whidbey Island Chicken Coop Tour-Illustration & Design; Blueschool Arts - Identity and website.
1994-1995
Illustration/Design Internship, Woodland Park Zoo Design Center, Seattle WA
Skills:
Illustration: Drawing, Painting, Scratchboard, and Printmaking
Design: PageMaker, Photoshop/Image Ready, Illustrator, Dreamweaver/Fireworks, basic (X) HTML and CSS, Wordpress, Weebly
2015
Introduction to Renaissance Egg Tempera, Gage Fine Art Academy, Seattle WA
2014
Repoussage, Icon Arts, Austin TX
2012
How to Write a Christian Icon and Repoussage, Icon Arts, Greve Italy
2011
How to Write a Christian Icon, Gage Fine Art Academy, Seattle WA
Introduction to Collage, Pratt Fine Arts Center, Seattle WA
2009-2010
Color Theory Bootcamp and How to Build a Body of Work, Pratt Fine Arts Center, Seattle WA
2002 - 2003
Printmaking Bootcamp I + II, Sev Shoon Printmaking Studio, Seattle WA
2001-02
MA in Psychology Pre-requisite program, Marylhurst University, Lake Oswego OR
MA in Psychology Pre-requisite program, Antioch University, Seattle WA
Theories of Personality, Abnormal Psychology, Developmental Psychology, Intro to Art Therapy (was accepted to both Universities to start the Masters program in Art Therapy.)
1995-2001
Variety of courses through the School of Visual Concepts, Seattle WA
Illustration, Intro to Illustrator 10, Dreamweaver in a Day, Portfolio Websites, Intro to HTML, Intro to Dreamweaver
1990-1994
BA in Illustration/Graphic Design, Western Washington University, Bellingham WA
Select Solo and Group Exhibitions:
2018
January: "All The World is a Stage" Group Show, Museo Gallery, Langley WA
2017
December: Port Clinton Holiday Makers Tour, Clinton WA
September: REPRISE: Original Hits by Orignal Artists, Good Arts Building, Seattle WA
August: Whidbey Island Working Artists Studio Tour, Blueschool Arts, Clinton WA
August: Forgeries at Frogwell, Frogwell Gardens Freeland WA
May: Original Hits by Original Artists, Good Arts Building, Seattle WA
2016
August: Whidbey Island Studio Tour, Blueschool Arts, Clinton WA
July: 100 under 100, '57 Biscayne Group Show, Seattle WA
May/June: Two Bells Tavern, Seattle WA
April: Spring Cleaning Studio Sale (group), Blueschool Arts, Clinton WA
2015
December: Whidbey Island Center for the Arts, Langley WA
September '15 - January '16: Iconography Group Show, Ida Culver House, Seattle WA
August: Whidbey Island Studio Tour, Blueschool Arts, Clinton WA
July-August: The Chiropractic Zone Healing Center, Langley WA
March: Blueschool Arts Opening Gala and Gallery Show (group), Blueschool, Clinton WA
Women of Whidbey (WOW) Artist Reception (group), Whidbey Island Center for the Arts, Langley WA
2014
October - June 2015: The Gatewood Bed & Breakfast, West Seattle Art Walk, Seattle WA
July-September: Prima Bistro, Langley, WA
March: Sparkman Co-work Space, Langley, WA
2013
October: Group Show “Dreaming”, Brackenwood Gallery, Langley WA
June: Bayview Cash Store/Handsome Framer, Langley WA
2012
December: Home for the Holidays Group Show, Rob Schouten Gallery, Greenbank WA
August: Group Show: Karin Bolstad and Dan Freeman, Rob Schouten Gallery, Greenbank WA
May: Birds + Nests: The Art of Spring Group Show, Rob Schouten Gallery, Greenbank WA
2011
Oct/Nov/Dec: Prima Bistro, Langley WA
May/June: Beck’s Hair Artistry, Langley WA
January/February: Island Framery, Clinton WA
2010
August/September: Café Lati, Seattle WA
May/June: Café Lulu, Seattle WA
April: Café Dharwin, Seattle WA
March: Caffe Vita Pioneer Square, Seattle WA (participated in First Thursday Artwalk)
January/February: Caffe Vita Capitol Hill, Seattle WA
2009
November/December: Caffe Ladro Union, Seattle WA
April/May: Caffe Ladro Fremont, Seattle WA
January/February: Caffe Ladro Capitol Hill, Seattle WA
2008
December: Café Dharwin, Seattle WA
October/November: Caffe Vita Queen Anne, Seattle WA
September: Hilltop Yarn, Seattle WA
July/August: Caffe Vita Fremont, Seattle WA
2007
November: Both Ways Café, Seattle WA
July/August: Caffe Ladro Bothell, Bothell WA
March/April: Caffe Vita Capitol Hill, Seattle WA
2006
December ‘06/February ’07: Bizzarro Italian Café, Seattle WA
August/September: Caffe Ladro Lower Queen Anne, Seattle WA
July: Frame Up Studios, Seattle WA
June: Shakti Vinyasa Yoga Studio and Gallery, Seattle WA
2003
November: Group Show, Holiday Art, City Lites Neon, Seattle WA
August: Group Show, Rosette Inc, Seattle WA
May: “The Ladies Attitude” Group Show, Gardens and Sunspaces Gallery, Duvall, WA
2002
November: Group Show, Holiday Art, Creative Legacy Art Studio, Renton WA
November: Student Show, Sev Shoon Art Center, Seattle WA
June: Group Show, The Rose Club, Seattle WA
February: A Salon and Day Spa, Seattle WA
2001
November: “Altares” Group Show, Phinney Neighborhood Association, Seattle WA
October: South End Open Studio Tour, Seattle WA
1997
November: Cedar River Brewing Company, Renton WA
June: Plenty Fine Foods, Seattle WA
Work Experience
2014-Present
Headmistress, Blueschool Arts (http://blueschoolarts.com)
2002-2005
Shipping Manager, In-house Designer/Illustrator, The Herbalist, Seattle WA
2000-2001
Executive Assistant, In-house Designer/Illustrator, Ummelina International Day Spa, Seattle WA
1998-2000
Instructional Assistant, Before and Afterschool Program (includes arts program), T.T. Minor Elementary School, Seattle WA
1995-present
Freelance Illustrator/Designer
Clients: Woodland Park Zoo- Illustrations; All the Best Pet Care- Illustrations; Pasta & Co. Downtown- Signage; InterUrban Bakery- Signage; Plenty Fine Foods- Signage; Cedar River Brewing Company- Mural; The Herbalist- Graphic Design and Illustrations; Ummelina International Day Spa- Graphic Design and Illustrations; Petaline.net - Identity and Website; Bouncing Wall Boutique- Website; Two 9 Design Interiors- Identity and Website; Object|Space Architects- Identity; 345 Builders- Identity; Shelly Mazzanoble- Author Website; Conibear Rowing Club- Illustrations; Uncle Dan’s Studio- Photography Blog; Katja Fritzche- Fine Artist Business Cards; Danny Perkins- Fine Artist Business Cards; Whidbey Island Chicken Coop Tour-Illustration & Design; Blueschool Arts - Identity and website.
1994-1995
Illustration/Design Internship, Woodland Park Zoo Design Center, Seattle WA
Skills:
Illustration: Drawing, Painting, Scratchboard, and Printmaking
Design: PageMaker, Photoshop/Image Ready, Illustrator, Dreamweaver/Fireworks, basic (X) HTML and CSS, Wordpress, Weebly