Today we’d like to introduce you to Karen Eland.
Hi Karen, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was raised in suburban Tulsa, OK and am thankful for a playful childhood with a large, close extended family. I always liked making art but also had so many other interests. A watercolor portrait class during high school is what really shaped my skills and interest in art and some sales to kind friends and family gave me confidence that perhaps there might be a future in art for me. After high school, I moved to the French Quarter in New Orleans, LA for 4 years. There my world expanded to include all the colorful street performers, travelers, artsy folks, and others who became my friends. I began sketching them all for fun while we hung out in various coffee shops. Eventually I moved to Texas for a few years and back to Tulsa. Making new friends in the coffeeshop there led to me coming up with the idea to paint with coffee, which then blossomed beyond my wildest dreams.
My sister and her family had moved to Bend in 2001, and I followed in 2008 when I was at a crossroads and ready for some change. Bend has now become home and I love all the ways you can enjoy nature and community here.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Some inner challenges I face off and on are the typical imposter syndrome stuff like “Am I a REAL artist when I just paint with weird things? When most of my work is lighthearted or just pretty?’ I try to remember how almost every artist I know struggles with this no matter how ‘successful’ they are, so I try to just keep on doing my thing and letting that be enough.
External challenges are sometimes in the technical realm, for example: learning the best ways to make my non-traditional paints work, or communicate clearly that it’s not just brown paint, but actually only a beverage on paper. In mural work, I’ve faced other logistical frustrations with mural codes, difficult weather, staying focused while also interacting with the public on site… but really I have nothing to complain about here.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
In 1998 I was painting a watercolor in a coffeeshop, when the beautiful red-brown color of espresso attracted my eye. I wondered aloud to my barista friend if perhaps I could paint with it, and he said “Go for it!”. It worked so well, I began adding a coffee into famous masterpieces such as Mona Lisa and Girl with a Pearl Earring, etc. I enjoyed the challenge of mimicking the various Old Masters’ styles using only coffee instead of paint. This led to a lot of interest and some worldwide press and a very unexpected career as a coffee painter.
In 2008 I moved to Bend, where I was surrounded by excellent craft breweries, so it wasn’t long before I had the idea to try painting with beer too. It worked just as well as coffee, and led to commissioned beer paintings from many breweries, and a trip to London to paint a live ad for Cobra beer.
My painting journey continues as I’ve begun to explore using wine. It’s a little more challenging to find which red wine looks best and is most lightfast, but I think I’ve found my way and look forward to creating more in this new (to me) paint.
Aside form my unusual mediums, I also paint colorful murals, often with my dear friend Katie Daisy. I love the chance to switch from monochromatic beverage painting to bold and bright huge murals. We’ve done about 20 murals in our region and beyond, with more to come this year.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Often I listen to audiobooks while painting. For me, listening to old cozy mysteries by Agatha Christie, or childhood favorites like Fantastic Mr Fox allow me to stay interested but also leaves enough mindspace to create.
Pricing:
- prints starting at $15
- Original paintings $75+
- murals about $35/sq.foot
Contact Info:
- Website: https://beerpainter.com
- Instagram: coffeepainter
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeerPainter
