karen margulis
​​INTERVIEW october 2020 

PSST demo artist Nov 7, 2020
"I live in Marietta Georgia, just outside of Atlanta.  I graduated from the University of Florida with a BA in Education. I operated a family day care for 21 years so that I could stay home with my own 2 children. We traveled every summer with the kids and tried to visit every National Park. Most of my paintings are inspired by the photos I took on these adventures. I am now painting and teaching pastel classes and workshops full time. I am represented by several galleries in the Southeast as well as several online galleries. I am a Member of Excellence in the Southeastern Pastel Society and a Signature Member of the Pastel Society of America."
PSST:  Karen, would you tell us about an incident, a quote, or an award that will always have special meaning to you? 

KM:  There have been many over the years but the most recent and certainly at the top of the list occurred at the last IAPS convention. I was doing a two hour demo and was so engrossed in my presentation that I didn’t notice Albert Handel come into the room. It is probably a good thing I didn’t. He came up to me after the demo with some very kind words. It meant a lot to me coming from him!

PSST:  Have you found particular colors that are essential for your paintings, or maybe an “aha” moment? 

KM:  I love color and there are quite a few colors that I can’t be without but if I had to share the most important colors I would say the super rich darks from Terry Ludwig. I can’t be without the famous eggplant but I also need the dark blue and dark greens.
PSST:  Karen, you have achieved tremendous success in YouTube, blogging, and social media—before many of us even thought about them. How has your equipment and approach changed over time? 

KM:  My approach hasn’t changed much at all. I always wanted to keep things simple. I don’t have a fancy set up or production. If it wasn’t easy to do I wouldn’t want to keep doing it. I only recently upgraded my camera and added a light. 

PSST:  What importance and direction do you see social media taking into 2021?

KM:  ​I believe it will be more important than ever for artists to have a social media presence since so much of our lives has  gone online! Whether you want to sell or show your work or if you just want to connect with other artists, social media plays an important role.  I also believe it is important to be involved in more than one platform. You will have a more diverse audience. 
PSST:  Do you feel participation with pastel society competitions an important step for artists? 

KM:  They definitely have helped me work harder to become a better artist so I recommend that being involved in pastel society competitions help give artists a goal to work toward. But I also respect that some artists are not interested in the competition aspect and just want to paint for themselves. I encourage artists to be involved in their societies even if they don’t enter the shows. There is so much to be gained from being a member of a pastel society. ​
What happened as a result of painting daily and posting to my blog, I could never have imagined. Not only did I start to get comfortable with the pastels and improve as an artist,  I met the most wonderful people online. People who shared my passion for art, nature, travel. People who encouraged me and motivated me to keep painting everyday. Daily painting and blogging became my refuge and my passion.  I love sharing my vision through my paintings.
​PSST:  You continually try new papers, products, techniques, and then write about the experience and the pros and cons. How beneficial has this approach been to you as an artist? 

KM:  I would be bored if I only used the same process and materials. Experimentation has made art interesting and encouraged me to keep painting. The more you paint the more you will improve! Through experimentation I have discovered interesting techniques. It is exciting to know there is much more to discover!

PSST:  What is your ‘favorite thing” you use in painting?  A special gadget or tool you have discovered or a special technique that you have developed that you would pass on to others?

KM:  I share this technique in most of my demos and I find I am using it more and more. I like to use workable fixative to build up layers. The more it is used the more textures the surface becomes. I like how this effect gives the feeling of texture to a painting. I like to use Blair very low odor workable fixative. 

PSST:  If you could time travel, what advice would you give the younger you, regarding pursuing your artmaking? 

KM:  I would tell my younger self to keep plugging away and don’t change a thing! I started my college journey majoring in commercial art but I switched to elementary education. My art was put on hold for years as I raised my family. I believe the experiences I had and travels I took made me the artist I am today. I am not sure I would have made a good commercial artist!
PSST:  Please tell us about your Patreon membership. 

KM:  Sure! Patreon is a platform that allows me to share lessons, videos, demos, challenges in a simple approachable format. Interested artists give a monthly pledge to access the content. I post new content just about every day. Patrons also have access to all past content which is now over three years of lessons and demos!

Website:  www.karenmargulis.com
Patreon:  www.Patreon.com/karenmargulis
Instagram:  @karenmargulis
Etsy:  www.etsy.com/shop/karenmargulisfineart
Pastel Society of Southeast Texas, bringing the beauty of pastel to international artists and collectors. A 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, based in the Greater Houston area.
​All images on this website copyright 2023 by listed artist and PSST.
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