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Karol Mack is widely recognized as one of the foremost
interpreters of the Western landscape. Her oil paintings evoke the essence
and beauty of the natural world as only a master of painting can do. The
special magic of Karol's work is communicated through light, color and her
own unique vision.
Karol Mack finds her muse in the rugged natural
settings of the Western United States. Her paintings range from large
renderings of the majestic Rocky Mountains to intimate vignettes of aspen
groves, winding streams, waterfalls, and meadows. The American landscape
is both her delight and her inheritance.
Born in Scott City, Kansas, Karol comes from pioneer
stock going back to Colorado's territorial period. Her family lived in
various western states before settling in a small farming and ranching
community in Morgan County, Colorado. The land consists of rolling plains
and prairies.
“Growing up in Colorado,” Karol says, “I spent more
time outdoors than indoors.” The family vacationed in Estes Park,
Colorado, 90 miles from her home and gateway to Rocky Mountain National
Park. This spectacular area left an indelible imprint on Karol. “I was
drawn to the amazing features of this landscape-the bodies of water, the
rocky outcroppings, the snowcapped peaks- which are such a contrast to the
plains. I love the tall trees and meadows, the shade, the shadows.” Her
first painting at age 9 was of Mount Meeker in Rocky Mountain National
Park.
It was only natural that Karol would hone her style in
the shadow of the mountains as a plein air painter. She says, “I love
being outdoors. You have to be in the landscape to be in touch with it.
You need to study the light, feel the air, experience the wholeness of the
place.” The challenges of plein air painting include swiftly changing
light and weather, the rigors of transporting materials, and encounters
with wild animals.
Karol likes painting in early morning and late evening
to capture the special effects of light. She paints in all seasons and
says, “I love spring in the Rockies, with those fragile, bright greens and
the snow that lingers in the mountain crevices. In autumn, there are the
rich colors, and in winter, snow glittering in sunshine.”
“Light is the most important element to me,” she says, “and
Western light is different from that in other parts of the world. The
light of the West has deep contrasts, and it changes very quickly.”
Working on location involves field studies, sketches
and photography. She sometimes produces finished works on the spot, and
she utilizes her studies to create larger works in the studio.
Why does Karol Mack paint landscape? “I want viewers to
experience the peace that nature gives. We spend so much time indoors now,
and we need remembrances of the beauties of the natural world. I would
like my work to offer quiet reflections on what nature is and does.”
In venerating nature in art, Karol Mack's paintings
recall the Hudson River School artists of the mid-19th century. Landscape
painters like Thomas Cole, Frederic Church, Albert Bierstadt and Thomas
Moran sought to capture the sublime in the magnificent wilderness areas of
an emerging nation. Their works elicit feelings of awe and reverence for
God's creation, a response familiar to viewers of Karol Mack's paintings.
A versatile artist, Karol enjoys portraying the adobe
architecture of Northern New Mexico, a region she has called home for 20
years. Of Scottish descent, Karol travels frequently to Scotland and
enjoys painting Scottish landscape, castles and architecture.
This modern master has received recognition and acclaim
throughout her career. Karol is a Signature Member of the Oil Painters of
America and received the organization's Award of Excellence in 2002. Karol
has exhibited with the American Artists Professional League at the
Salmagundi Club in New York since 2000, when she was awarded the
Director's Choice Award. She is an Artist Member of the American Plains
Artists.
Recognizing the need for an organization devoted to
painting in the West, Karol conceived and helped found the Rocky Mountain
Plein Air Painters in 2000 and has been active in that group ever since.
Karol has exhibited extensively across the country in
major museums, galleries and shows, and her art is found in collections
world-wide. Articles about her have appeared in numerous
national/international magazines.
Today, Karol divides her time between her studios in
Northern New Mexico and Estes Park, Colorado, while traveling extensively
to participate in plein air events around the country. Desiring to share
her knowledge, she conducts painting classes and seminars.
As consummate landscape artist, Karol Mack continues to
share her mastery of the medium, her love of the Western land, and her
artistic vision.
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