Karyn Drum

Through my large brightly colored acrylic paintings, I strive to capture the vibrant and magical beauty of the New Mexico landscape. The rugged terrain, rocky outcrops, huge boulders, canyons and winding arroyos all accompanied by dynamic skies and clouds are the focus of my work. Living in this captivating area has provided me with endless inspiration, from the layers in the rock formations to the wild, vivid, and intense clouds and sunsets. The play of light and shadow on the mesas and boulders during different times of day, as well as the windblown junipers dancing across the landscape, draws me to create joyful and playful compositions. I am deeply inspired by the natural world, and my work reflects the vast open spaces and magical vistas I have been fortunate to experience. My technique involves underpainting large canvases with bright acrylic colors using large brushes working fast, almost like sword fighting, establishing the shapes and composition. This approach allows me to capture the vibrancy and energy of the landscapes that surround me. Then I add depth and play with shadows before finishing the colorful, sometimes whimsical, details with smaller brushes. My work is a celebration of the natural beauty of New Mexico and I hope to evoke a sense of awe and wonder for the mesmerizing land and sky of this enchanting place I am fortunate to call home.

My love for the New Mexico landscape and nature was instilled early in my childhood by fabulous, outdoorsy parents, incredible Girl Scout adventures, horseback trail rides, camping, fishing, and sailing. Making art was always an integral part of my life and I knew I wanted to be an artist at a very young age. Anxious to get to art school, I graduated a year early from High School to go to Texas Tech and then on to graduate school at East Carolina where I received the Special Talent Award. After earning my MFA, I went on to teach at UT El Paso. That Summer I went to visit my parents living in West Germany. While there I got a job as a graphic artist and stayed for 2 ½ years. I moved to the Bay Area, continued working as a graphic artist, and ended up in Portland for 12 years. When my children reached school age I got my K-12 teaching certificate and moved to North Carolina, where my parents had retired. There I taught elementary art for 17 years. I never stopped painting and exhibiting and I never let go of my southwest roots, visiting New Mexico often. When I retired, I moved back to Tucumcari and set up my home and studio in a 1918 house on the National Historic Register. I remodeled a large outbuilding to provide a venue for my large New Mexico landscape paintings and for visitors to stroll through my organic garden (another passion of mine) to get to the gallery. My studio remains in the house as well as many other large paintings on display throughout my home.

2-D, Painting (all materials)