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Karen O'Brien

Karen O'Brien

University Place, WA

As a pastel and acrylic artist and physician I am passionate about the ability of light and color to provide healing and well being.

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Zephyrus study by Karen O'Brien
  • Zephyrus study
Soft pastel
7 x 5 in
The Gusts of Dusk study by Karen O'Brien
  • The Gusts of Dusk study
Soft pastel
7 x 5 in
Sunrise from the Dune of Pilat II by Karen O'Brien
  • Sunrise from the Dune of Pilat II
Soft pastel
16 x 20 in
Stormbreak Over Desolation Lake by Karen O'Brien
  • Stormbreak Over Desolation Lake
Soft pastel
20 x 16 in
Borne of Light and Wind study by Karen O'Brien
  • Borne of Light and Wind study
Soft pastel
5 x 7 in
Bearing the Light of Shadows study by Karen O'Brien
  • Bearing the Light of Shadows study
Soft pastel
6 x 6 in
The Sentinels of the Sunbeams by Karen O'Brien
  • The Sentinels of the Sunbeams
Soft pastel
7 x 5 in
$50
The Paths of Greater Angels by Karen O'Brien
  • The Paths of Greater Angels
Soft pastel
20 x 16 in
Sunrise from the Dune of Pilat by Karen O'Brien
  • Sunrise from the Dune of Pilat
Soft pastel
5 x 7 in
$50
Stormbreak Over Desolation Lake by Karen O'Brien
  • Stormbreak Over Desolation Lake
Soft pastel
7 x 5 in
$50
As Darkness Falls by Karen O'Brien
  • As Darkness Falls
Soft pastel
16 x 20 in
$750
Window Seat Nocturne by Karen O'Brien
  • Window Seat Nocturne
pastel
16 x 20 in
Window Seat Sound View by Karen O'Brien
  • Window Seat Sound View
pastel
20 x 16 in
Window Seat Reverie by Karen O'Brien
  • Window Seat Reverie
pastel
20 x 16 in
The Waves at Lover's Wall by Karen O'Brien
  • The Waves at Lover's Wall
Pastel
9 x 18 in
Stormbreak Over Desolation Lake III by Karen O'Brien
  • Stormbreak Over Desolation Lake III
7 x 5 in
Stormbreak Over Desolation Lake II by Karen O'Brien
  • Stormbreak Over Desolation Lake II
7 x 5 in
Rework of painting by Karen O'Brien
  • Rework of painting
16 x 20 in
 

My Mother wanted me to become an artist but I became a doctor instead. I served as an Army Family Physician and spent much of my career training young doctors. As the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq waged, my students and husband were deployed in harm's way. I turned to art to build resilience. After serving a tour in Afghanistan, I retired in 2014 with 27 years of service. I now take care of Veterans part time and spend the rest of my free time painting.

I am a contemporary abstract colorist who uses unique layering to create an interplay of texture, color and form to create vibrant non-objective and abstract landscapes. I hope that my art will help viewers to establish connections that will improve health and wellbeing. I strive to inspire connections with the art, with their creative selves, and with others thru mutual love of art and beauty. Human connection is one of the most important drivers of health in older adults. Research shows that lack of human connection affects health and mortality as much as smoking and obesity. There is much we can do to reverse the epidemic of isolation and loneliness that many people experience and help improve health and lifespans.

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