ABOUT THE ARTIST
KAREN D. BECKWITH
Artist, Printmaker & Master Printer
Certain she needed to be an artist from the time she was a small child, Karen Beckwith graduated from the Cleveland Institute of Art in 1987 with a B.F.A in Printmaking and Illustration. In 1998 she became part of a premier group of printmakers who have successfully completed Tamarind Institute’s Master Printer Fellowship.
As a Master Printer Karen has worked collaboratively with well known artists, and as a Professional Artist her personal body of artistic work has been exhibited across the United States and Internationally. Karen’s fine art prints are located in prominent private and corporate art collections throughout the U.S.
Karen has been dedicated to the creation of fine art prints for over thirty years and is as convinced today, as she was when she was a little girl, that a life as an artist is the only life for her! Currently Karen is focused on exhibitions, commissions and developing a printmaking community in Cleveland, Ohio - where she maintains a full time printmaking facility, K2 ART STUDIO.
VISUAL STORYTELLER
“I think of myself as a visual archaeologist. Immersing myself in site-specific landscapes, I delve into remnants and traces of people's lives. Whether in urban or rural environments, desolate spaces or deteriorating structures, I approach each piece striving to uncover the soul of a place. Through this exploration I unearth inspiration, which I transform into captivating multi-layered prints and collages.
I portray a neighborhood's history by intricately layering cityscapes, and hint at human activity through carefully chosen remnants of daily life. Through the use of rich, subtle colors and the depiction of worn-out surfaces, I convey the mood and spirit of unseen individuals. The inhabitants of these landscapes may not be physically present yet their essence permeates every layer.
By interweaving recognizable buildings, symbolic objects, and evocative atmospheres, I create visual narratives that scrutinize the very nature of our existence. Each piece tells a unique story, inviting viewers to contemplate the complexities and emotions that shape our lives. I strive to illuminate our similarities. It is my hope that these evocative visual stories will resonate with viewers, sparking a sense of connection, introspection, and a renewed appreciation for the tapestry of our shared human experience.”
CHOP MARK
Karen successfully completed the TAMARIND INSTITUTE’S renowned and rigorous professional certification fellowship to become a registered Master Printer in 1998. This requires demonstrating technical knowledge and aesthetic experience of the highest caliber, as well as mastering the complicated skill set necessary to successfully guide professional artistic collaborations.
When the status of Master Printer is awarded, the printer designs a stamp that will be embossed onto their prints, thereby certifying an edition and signing their work. Karen’s Chop Mark portrays a bear symbol which she created, as a self reflection, for its calm, quiet, stable strength.
There are only a little over a hundred Master Printers with registered Tamarind Chop Marks internationally.