Pastel Paintings By Karen Honnold

Born and reared in rural Illinois, Karen Honnold was drawn to the arts in early childhood.  She routinely engages in multiple disciplines including poetry and the visual arts.  Drawing was her first love until she discovered painting with oils.  She received instruction from a local visual artist, Leo Hanna, and continued to nurture her art as she raised her family of three daughters. 

Most recently Karen's passion has been the use of pastels to depict musical instruments.  After seeing her Grandfather's violin in the Heritage House in her home town of Ridge Farm, Illinois, she chose it as one of the first of a wide variety of instrument paintings. 

"I paint what I see.  I'm moved not only by the music, but by the beauty of the instruments, so complex that I sometimes paint only a partial view.  Or I paint the part of the instrument the musician loves the most."

One of Karen's daughters has given her ample opportunity to listen to and observe all types of music and instruments as she pursues her career as a professional musician.

As a literary artist, Karen's writing has been published in the Readers Write section of The Sun literary magazine and her poetry has been featured in the Lucidity poetry journal. She annually attends the Lucidity poetry retreat held each spring in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Her poetry can also be found on the Illinois State Poetry Society web site.    

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