A captivating all-new exhibition of watercolours that captures moments in time - be it a rain drop, a reflection, a tragedy or just fantasy.
Karen Johns is a multi award-winning local artist specialising in watercolours. A Moment in Time mainly showcases Karen’s new work and shows off her mastery of light & shade and colour in the dynamic medium that is watercolours.
Karen is not averse to creating shock or revolt in her audience (and family!), as she explores the full range of senses and scenes that are part and parcel of life…and death.
Come and see this brilliant exhibition and admire both the technical and the creative aspects of the work.
Free entry.
All work is for sale - your opportunity to purchase one-of-a-kind artworks.
Karen Johns Artist Statement
A Moment in Time is a collection of watercolour paintings from about 13 years ago but most very recent. What I try to activate the senses; touch, taste, smell, emotions. Many are paintings of animals, some dead. Old and decay is especially appealing to me. Landscapes, still life, a touch of brightness.
Inspiration comes from what I see and can photograph. Sometimes I paint from nothing at all when at a loss for inspiration or there is the odd occasion where I do something different like ABC personality “Costa” for my entry to ‘The Bradley’ portrait competition’.
Being watercolour the paint has a mind of its own. It blends, mixes, changes, always full of potential. I always feel something other than me guides it and meaning must be made of it. Darks and lights is my mantra. See the shadows and bring out the colours. I catch a moment in time.
Karen Johns Artist Bio
I have always loved nature and creating. Be it environmental or art. unfortunately I never have ever really known what I wanted in life and I have dabbled in the sciences {Australian environmental studies} and health {general nursing at Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane}, had children, been a grass widow, farmed, photographed, painted, gardened etc etc. Perhaps a Jill of all trades and master of none. My watercolour story begins back in 2008 with the tragic loss of my son.
A woman by the name of Elaine Seary from Mareeba North Queensland kindly allowed me to join her Wednesday afternoon watercolour group where she taught the basics. I travelled rotating cars weekly with a friend driving for 1 hour from our homes in Malanda. Other than art at school until grade 10 this was/is the only formal lessons I have had.
As soon as I arrived in Stanthorpe in 2014 I found Laurie’s Larrikins at Art of Davardie quite by chance. Meeting all these people with their various forms of creativity has kept me painting ever since even if I have moved around a few locations with them painting for half a day a week. Meanwhile the rest of the time I have hobby farmed. My other passions are breeding pure bred poultry, cultivating plants, sustainability of food and environment, wildlife and photography just to name a few.
I have exhibited my art regularly along the way with my first most exciting win with the Atherton Regional Art Society in 2013 with the painting ‘Flying Foxes in Plight”. It was exciting because it was a painting done in frustration of the attitudes to these beautiful animals and it got to be in your face. With this I realised the power of art.
I was the first to have an exhibition at the Stanthorpe railway station and have exhibited regularly in the Stanthorpe agricultural show where I have been very successful from winning champion painting {can’t remember with which one or when}, various sections including people’s choice with the painting ‘Dawn’. Much to my delight I have managed {not for want of trying} to have a painting accepted as a finalist in the 2021 Stanthorpe Art Prize with the painting ‘Down in the Back Shed”. I even got a highly commended one year with a dead kangaroo in the local artist exhibition!
I have filled my house, my mum’s house and my sister’s house with paintings. I do enjoy paintings with oils but I find I am very messy and tend to get paint on the ceilings, floors, furniture, walls and pets. Watercolour is usually easy to wash off. My dream is to have a studio of my own where I can spray, splatter, smear, drip or pour paint, have all my books and computer and other bits of junk like dead animals {maybe a freezer}, lumps of wood, feathers, nik naks and you name it in one place. I am an obsessive collector of odds and sods that help with my thought processes and art so having them where I can see them is very useful. Also they delight my 7 year old granddaughter even if it revolts everyone else and that is worth it!