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| Artist Statement I spend a great deal of time riding my horses alone in contemplation. No matter what subject I paint either animal, scenery, florals or people, something has triggered an emotion that compels me to express myself through my art. My art is my passion and a never ending trial, to capture our beautiful world on my canvas. |
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| Credits and Awards 2008 - The annual Three Horse Art Studio show grows in size with five local artists. 2008 – Karen’s painting “River Swans” was selected for On The Water’s Edge Show in Gananoque Ontario. 2008 - Her painting “Dog Paddle” was selected for The Water’s Edge Show in Clayton New York. 2008 – Karen’s graphite Rose and Kaylee was given a honourable mention for the Horses In Art cover competition. 2007 - Initiated the first annual Three Horse Art Studio Show. With other local artists Karen converts her indoor riding arena into a large art venue for the Canadian Thanksgiving Weekend each year. 2006 - Karen’s work was selected & shown in the 2006 and 2007 of the Sporting Art Issue of the Polo Players Magazine. 2006 - Karen was selected to jury the Fredericksburg Fine Art Show in Fredericksburg Virginia. 2006 – Karen’s work was selected for the Kingston Art Council show in Kingston Ontario. 2005 – Completed a mural of racing Standard bred horses for the Mark Steacy Racing Stables as well as a number of commissions including one of Majestic Son Canada’s Standard bred of the year 2006. 2004 – Karen’s graphite “Monty” became the signature piece for the 2004 International Police Equestrian Championship Competition held in Kingston, Ontario. “Monty” was also released as a limited edition print. 2004 - Karen’s graphite “My Boys”, a drawing of her husband with his horse Buddy, was selected for the fall American Academy of Equine Art Show at the Kentucky Horse Park. |
| Website www.thecoachhousegallery.com |
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| About The Artist Karen Bockus was born in Toronto Ontario, where she studied and worked in the commercial art field. She decided to change directions and completed a diploma in Agriculture at the University of Guelph. In 1975 she started her career with the Canada Border Services Agency where she worked in both Manitoba and Ontario and retired from in 2006. During the 1990’s she became involved with the conservation organization Ducks Unlimited Canada where her limited edition print “Tough Retrieve” was sold successfully across Canada at their fundraising dinners. For personal reasons Karen put down her paintbrush for over a dozen years. While attending the Police Equestrian Championship Competition at the Kentucky Horse Park, Karen saw the American Academy Equine Art Show and was inspired to start painting again. With the support of her husband Ron, and friends to get back to work she chose a medium and subject that she had never explored, graphite and horses. Karen and her husband Ron currently reside on a small hobby farm in the heart of the Thousand Islands Ontario with their three Quarter horses and three cats. Animals are a never-ending source of inspiration and amusement, her goal is to draw and paint as many of these activities as she can in her retirement years. |