Karen Thumm
Guild Member Salon Show
Karen Thumm ABOUT: Along with an obsession for horses, art has been a driving force in my life since early childhood. As a child, I would draw and paint for hours. Sometimes I would take pencil and paper with me while roaming the woods and fields around our house. But when it came time for college, in the age of Abstract Expressionism, I was pointed toward a more practical degree, and to my deep regret, never took a single art class. The remedy came when, at age 38, a summer drawing class inspired me to apply to the degree program in commercial art at Northwestern Michigan College. There, I learned the basic fundamentals of drawing, painting, and design that led to a successful career as a professional fine artist. Starting out as a pet portrait artist, horse ownership soon opened up a new world for my equestrian fine art. It’s the subject for which I’m best known today, but not the only subject I’m drawn to. My devotion is as an artist first and an equine artist second. Realism has always been my focus. I enjoy interpreting the beauty that surrounds us all and the vitality of nature’s creatures. My style is mostly based on traditional Realism, in which I strive to create a moving work of art, not just an exact copy of nature or a photograph. I work mostly in oils, pastel, and a variety of drawing media. Influences have been the great illustrators of the past, the Impressionists, Sargent, and the great sporting artist Sir Alfred Munnings, to name but a few. I’m eternally grateful that I’ve been able to pursue my two most cherished accomplishments: a career in the fine arts and a life with horses. THIS YEAR: My long-dormant drawing table is wonderful to work on and my drawing skills haven’t become too rusty. CONTACT: Website, karenthumm@gmail.com.
“Pensive,” Graphite pencil on paper, 2020, 7 x 9 in, NFS. Some years back I was commissioned to do an oil portrait of this lovely Friesian mare. During the process I took quite a few pictures of Alpi, and although this one wasn’t used for the portrait, it has always been one of my favorites. To start off 2020 I decided to do a drawing from my photograph, a sensitive drawing that would show the pensive moment that had been caught in the photograph. I’m quite pleased with how “Little Lambsey Divey,” Oil on panel, 2018, 8 x 10 in, $250. On a drive in the country, we came across a sheep farm where the lambs and ewes were close to the road. I took quite a few pictures, but this little lamb, especially caught my attention. She was the only one who was adventurous enough to wander on her own and who paid any attention to us. A few years later, I decided to paint her, concentrating on the colors in her white coat and giving her all the attention she deserved. The background is entirely from my imagination.
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