Karen Richards - Lifelong Gardener & Artist
An Artist with a Mission
Recently retired from active and exciting careers in the horticulture industry
and art education, I've turned to painting full time and to offering my knowledge
and experience in the horticulture field to bring attention to our fragile environment.
My focus now twofold. I offer Public Speaking engagements telling of my journey
from gardener to artist to environmental activist to garden clubs and related
organizations and I donate a meaningful portion of my art sales to local environmental organizations that I am happy to support and whose good works I believe should be
promoted.
* If you would like me to come to your organization to spread the news of changing environmental
practices that enhance the environment and share my journey and artwork please feel free to
contact me at [email protected]
My Journey - Bringing Nature Home
I was given my first set of oil paints on my 7th birthday. I loved being outside and by the
age of 12 I was spending allowance money on 6 packs of annuals to plant in the back yard.
Later - finding it hard to choose between a degree in horticulture or fine art
I decided to be "practical" I decided I could do both; I could study painting on my own and pursue a degree in
Hiorticulture at SUNY Cobleskill, NY and eventually earned a Master Gardener certificate from Cornell
Cooperative Extension in Suffolk County, Long Island, New York.
Years later, while managing the gardens of an estate in Southampton on Long Island in New York, I returned to
school and earned a B. S. degree in Fine Art, with a minor in Art Education. I began my teaching career, continued
my art studies at the Art Students League in NYC. and in n in 1996 I began exhibiting and selling my paintings.
In 2021 I retired from teaching, sold my house and moved to Hilton Head South Carolina - I joined two art
associations and now exhibit my work in the SOBA Gallery in Bluffton, SC and the Beaufort Art Association
Gallery in Beaufort, SC
You can find my works at these two galleries and follow my continuing journey on instagram @karenrichardsart