Exquisite Arts Magazine Vol 3 - Nov/ Dec 2016 | Page 50

“I was born in the city of St. John’s on the island of Newfoundland, Canada. I grew
up on the shores of a lake and learned to swim at a very young age. All of my
fondest memories always include water. If I have a first love it is mathematics. My
fascination with numbers and calculation led me into the engineering program at
Memorial University in Newfoundland. After two years of studying engineering, I
left to attend the Alberta College of Art where I studied Visual Communications.
After graduating, I got a job in advertising and went on to earn my living in
corporate graphic design, including developing corporate identities for some of the
largest corporations in Canada. When I moved to the United States in 2007, I took
several classes at the Glassell School of Art in Houston, where I currently live, and
focused my studies on designing and producing handmade jewelry. As time
permits, I continue to create unique handmade jewelry today. Painting is the
current love of my creative life.”
Karen Landigan is an elected member of the Society of Canadian Artists.
Your style of artistry is fascinating and
very original. You stated that painting
is the current love of your creative
life. Why is this, and how/when were
you introduced to painting?
I’m extremely fortunate. I have always
been able to make a living doing the
things I love to do. But after a long career
as a graphic artist and jewellery designer
I suffered a massive stroke at the age of
50. Life suddenly wasn’t the same. I had
a sense I was straddling a line between

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life and death. I was unable to express
myself because of the aphasia, a side
effect of the stroke that causes difficulty
with speech and language. I needed a
reason to fight, to survive and a way to
communicate. Surviving is tough and
painting became my way back from the
abyss.
I’ve always been a full bore girl. I was a
competitive water polo player and
swimmer. I have always been happiest in
water and so I became the model for my