Karlene VanDeusen's history as an artist spans a few decades.  In her own words:

"I look around and see beauty everywhere! Woods & Water inspire expressive representations of  pastoral landscapes in Pastel, Watercolor, Gouache, Oil or Acrylic. Often they're painted plein air (on-site outdoors). My paintings motivate a deeper appreciation of the rural countryside surrounding Lake Ontario, the Erie Canal and Finger Lakes and suggest a mood of peace and contentment. We're living in anxious times and need to find a way to be in tune with nature. My goal is to inspire others to take a closer look at the natural world. In this stressful world, don't we all need to find our own special place?

Interested in Art and Gardens, I attended the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. With a Graphic Design degree, I worked for many years as a Layout Artist in Retail. These days, I'm a Substitute Teacher. Working in the schools is great, because with summers off,  it leaves me plenty of time to paint outdoors. And yes, I'm still a gardener! A Tree Farm in upstate NY woods is my home, which inspires my representational landscapes. I regularly teach Art classes; at an Art Center, a local library and for artist groups. I continue to hone my skills, by taking workshops from nationally known artists. "HOME PORTRAITS" (commission painting) and Illustrating book covers are two favorite specialties. Customers frequently comment that VanDeusen Design paintings are relaxing, with expressive, tranquil scenes, which can be found in homes & offices internationally as well as across the US.

Affiliations: I'm a founding member of the Pastel Society of Western New York and IAPS.  I'm a member of Rochester Artisans."