Having spent the majority of my life in somewhat remote, isolated regions of the country, my work has been greatly influenced by the environment. Growing up on the South Texas coast, where the land is flat and nondescript, I was naturally drawn to the horizon. The sky always figured prominently in my work, but it wasn’t until a trip to the Southwest that I realized the metaphoric power of a dynamic sunset. It became my main focus, and has remained so for over twenty years, providing me an endless source of inspiration. Even in works in which the sky would not appear to be the primary component, I am acutely aware of the natural abstractions created by the effects of light and atmosphere on the landscape and try to depict the mood these elements evoke.

Of primary interest to me is color, light, and movement, the image being the vehicle for their study. Since the aspects of nature I depict are in a constant, and often very rapid, state of transition, I try to incorporate this transient, flowing quality in my work through a fluid use of the medium and multilayered evolution of the image. Technique and craftsmanship are of great importance to me, as I wish to draw the viewer in for a closer examination and, thus, a better understanding of both the work itself and the experience upon which it was based.

Through subjective realism I try to depict the ephemeral, abstract qualities of nature and the emotional, sometimes metaphorical, responses they can inspire.


EDUCATION
1978 B.A. Summa Cum Laude in Fine Arts - Corpus Christi State University (now Texas A&M Corpus Christi), Corpus Christi, Texas
Mary M. Packwood Scholarship for Fine Arts
Corpus Christi Art Community Scholarship
Board of Regents Scholarship
Federal Academic Grant

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2005 “Jezebel’s Ball," Jezebel Gallery - Santa Fe, New Mexico
2004 “Celestial Southwest,” One Person Show, Jezebel Gallery Santa Fe, New Mexico
2003 “Three Artists of Etheric Beauty” with Jackie Black and Collette Chamberlain, Jezebel Gallery - Santa Fe, New Mexico
2003 “Featured Artists - Karen Smittle and Charles McBride White," Dragonfly Gallery - Atlanta, Georgia
2002 “Big Mix," Hanson Gallery - Knoxville, Tennessee
2001 “Gallery Mix," Hanson Gallery - Knoxville, Tennessee
2001 “Landscapes," Hanson Gallery - Knoxville, Tennessee
1998 “Seventh Annual Missouri Top Fifty," Juror: Elizabeth
Sussman, Director of Curatorial Research, Whitney Museum of American Art; New York, New York, Fine Arts Gallery - Sedalia, Missouri
1994-95 "Glass by Dick Burkhalter, Pastels by Karen Smittle”," Patio Azul Gallery - Sedona, Arizona
1992-93 “The Art of Pastel: Fourth Biennial National Exhibition
and Museum Tour," (Illus. Catalog), Museum of the Americas - New Orleans, Louisiana; Lauren Rogers Museum of Art - Laurel, Mississippi; Meadows Museum of Art - Shreveport, Louisiana
1992 “Contemporary Texas Landscapes," Hill Country Arts
Foundation Invitational Exhibition, Duncan-McAshan Visual Arts Center - Ingram, Texas
1992 “Mind and Spirit: New Landscapes," Jansen-Perez Galleries, Inc. - San Antonio, Texas
1992 “Essential Elements: Earth, Sky, Wood, Water," Spicewood Gallery - Austin, Texas
1991 “Target: South Texas/The World Outside” (Illus.
Catalog), Curated by Margaret Gillham - Curator, Art Museum of South Texas - Corpus Christi, Texas
1991 “Merit Exhibition,"Rockport Art Center - Rockport, Texas
1990 "Rockport Art Association Exhibition" - Merit Show Winner
Rockport Art Center - Rockport, Texas
1990 “Summer Images," Patrick Gallery - Austin, Texas
1989 “A New Voice: Abstract and Other Views” (Catalog), Rockport Art Center - Rockport, Texas
1989 “Women and Their Art-A Juried Exhibition in Celebration of
International Women’s Day; Jurors: Lin Nelson-Mayson, Curator -Art Museum of South Texas; Jerri Crabb, Art Director - Corpus Christi Museum; Mark Anderson, Art Professor - Corpus Christi State University; Galeria Chaparral - Corpus Christi, Texas
1988 “Fleeting Moments," Two-Person Exhibition with Charles McBride White; Galeria Chaparral - Corpus Christi, Texas
1988 “Visual Sensations” Curated by Andy Villarreal, San Antonio Artist and Instructor; Rockport Art Center - Rockport, Texas
1988 “New Work by Gallery Artists," Patrick Gallery - Austin, Texas
1988 “Landscapes,"Patrick Gallery - Austin, Texas
1987 “Works," Curated by Andy Villarreal, San Antonio Artist and Instructor; Rockport Art Center - Rockport, Texas
1987 “Texas Artists,"Image Gallery - Austin, Texas
1987 “Art Jam," Galeria Chaparral - Corpus Christi, Texas
1986 “3rd Annual National Exhibit for Pastels Only” (Illus. Catalog)Juror: Flora Giffuni, President - Pastel Society of America; Wichita, Kansas
1986 “Group Exhibition," Aransas Bay Gallery - Fulton, Texas
1986 “Spring," Aransas Bay Gallery - Fulton, Texas
1985 “Birds of a Feather," Artisans Gallery - Corpus Christi, Texas
1978 “Group Exhibition," Pan American University - Brownsville, Texas

COLLECTIONS and COMMISSIONS
Emboss Graphics; Naperville, Illinois
Offices of Dr. Eric Ingham; Knoxville, Tennessee
Louis Ballard, 3M Corporation; St. Louis, Missouri
American Airlines, Robert Mueller Airport; Austin, Texas
Horizon Savings and Loan; Austin, Texas
Offices of Dr. Robert C. Cody; Corpus Christi, Texas
Whitley and Anne Streiber, authors; New York, New York
Water Street Market; Corpus Christi, Texas
Ship Ahoy! Restaurant; Corpus Christi, Texas
Memorial Funeral Home; Corpus Christi, Texas
Dr. Nancy Heersen; Austin, Texas
Becky and Scott Felder; Austin, Texas

BIBLIOGRAPHY
“Jezebel Gallery: Romance with Nature.” Guest Life New Mexico. 2004/2005 ____Hardcover Annual Edition. Cover Art and pp. 24a-25a.
“Jezebel Gallery.” New Mexico Culture & Cuisine. 2004/2005, pp. 24a-25a.
Jessen, Brenda. “Artist brings sunsets to life with array of pastels.” The Salem ___ News. 3 August 2004, sec. A, p. 1.
Nott, Robert. “Gallery Wise: Jezebel.” The Santa Fe New Mexican. 2 January 2004, ____“Pasatiempo,” p. 10.
Adrian, Kay. “A Singular Vision: Spicewood Gallery.” Austin! The Capitol Magazine ___ of Texas. Sept./Oct. 1992, pp.14-16.
Goddard, Dan R. “Artists capture South Texas sky’s beauty in their paintings.” ___ San Antonio Express News, 21 March 1992.
Steward, Charles. “Local, changing skies inspire Smittle pastels.” Rockport Pilot, ____13 July 1991, sec. A, pp. 4, 8.
Rote, Carey. “Works by South Texans explore ‘World Outside’.” Corpus Christi
___ Caller-Times, 3 May 1991, sec. F, p. 17.
Mortensen, Eleanor. “People & Places.” Corpus Christi Caller-Times, 24 March ____1991, sec. D, p. 2.
“Take a Look.” Coastline Magazine, 21 March 1991, p. 23.
Pickering, David. “Art exhibit looks into the outside. Corpus Christi Caller-Times, ____15 March 1991, sec. F, p. 10.
Pickering, David. “Exhibit is rich in women and their art.” Corpus Christi Caller- ___ Times, 19 March 1989, sec. D, pp. 9-10.
Merry, Bejou. 'Patrick Gallery.' "Austin Chronical", 8 April 1988, p.54. ___ ExpressNews, 21 March 1992.
Schmidt, Maurice. “Fleeting Moments.” Corpus Christi Caller-Times. 21 February ____1988, sec. H, p.5.
“Karen Smittle work is on display at Galeria Chaparral.” Corpus Christi Caller-
___ Times, 12 February 1988, “Weekend Magazine,” p. 1.
“Fleeting Moments’ is title of Galeria Chaparral exhibit.” Corpus Christi Caller-
___ Times, 29 January 1988, “Weekend Magazine,” p. 3.