Southport Magazine

From pet portraits to sculpture, local artist captures beauty in art work

Story By Carla Edstrom

Art brings people from all walks of life together. It’s a tool for sharing and exploring viewpoints. This interaction is special,” explains local multi-media artist Karen Masterson. From her beloved animal pet portraits on canvas and clay to her mysterious 3-dimensional women’s portrait sculptures, Masterson’s profusion of art work has captured the essence of her subjects beautifully. “Inspiration comes when I least expect it. From a striking color to someone’s attitude that I must capture. The absolute constant for inspiration is to view and be in the presence of great art. I always return to my studios inspired to create something beautiful.”

Originally from Memphis, Masterson relocated to Coastal Carolina 10 years ago. “My educational background is in Behavioral Science with a Masters in Counseling. I began training after relocating to NC. Studied with 3rd generation Italian painter Frank Covino. After relocating to the Coastal Carolinas, I had the time to devote to this new direction of expression through art. I believe my background working with so many people through the years has enriched my appreciation for visual expression in my work.”

 Masterson creates all different types of art going with whatever her instincts dictate. “The Old Masters style of painting is my first love,” she said. “This intense study and submersion into detail and realism are highly focused. But when this skill is allowed to become flexible in the application the results are so diverse. It gives me tremendous flexibility depending on the medium I choose. From portraits of famous people to beloved animal portraits, to whimsical watercolor animals, to sculpting, to jewelry creation, my training grounds me regardless of the application or medium.”

 As someone who has had pet portraits painted to immortalize the memory of a beloved family member, it’s a wonderful thing to have an artist capture the personality of a beloved pet that has passed away. Masterson has created many pet and animal portraits over the years, and she takes the project very seriously. “For many people, their pets are a part of the family, and on these portraits, I strive for perfection. Creating a realistic lasting image of a family member is a gratifying accomplishment. When they look at this painting with recognition of their pet and smile, I feel very gratified. Art, capturing a moment, should create a positive response. For me personally, when a client comments on their painting or sculpture to their friends and family…. when they express genuine appreciation for the art, I experience a wonderful sense of accomplishment.”

 With her artistic style recognizable and flawlessly merging into different mediums including painting, sculpture, and jewelry, Masterson has found her place in each art form. “I love the diversity of creation through different mediums of art,” she said. “Sometimes it’s with oil painting, or it could be an image that I need to sculpt into being with my hands. Sometimes I see a design or a pattern and I think that could be translated into another form such as a piece of jewelry. Inspiration can come from such a variety of sources. I enjoy the diversity of many mediums. The selection of medium correlates to the vision I need to create,” she said. “I work a great deal with the concept of values. Value is not the only variation of shades of colors but controls depth and perception. A slight variation can soften a curve or be the opposite and create drama. Even when I am sculpting a bust or portrait in clay, I visualize the shapes and planes of the face in values…where do I see the light and dark?”

Spending time working on facial and body sculpture, Masterson has recently begun a series of 3-dimensional portraits of woman. “My mentor, Frank Covino, would tell me that until you sculpt faces and the human form, you cannot become a great painter. I did not understand the depth of this concept until the last few years when I began sculpting. It does add the 3rd dimension as the clay becomes a defined shape but it tremendously increases the need to create this 3rd dimension in my 2-dimensional painting.”

 Masterson has her art on display at the Franklin Square Gallery in Southport, Blue Moon Gift Shops, and K and M Antiques in Wilmington, or by appointment at her studios. You can reach her by email at klmastersn@yahoo.com