the CCAL
- Jan 3, 2022
- 4 min read

Spotlight Artist January 2022: Karen Larrabee

We have a whole new Spotlight Artist of the Month to kick off the new year: Karen Larrabee. Karen is a longtime CCAL member who has served many roles in the league. Thanks for all you do!

See her beautiful artwork in person at the Chamber if you get a chance!

Congratulations Karen!

"Shark Tail" by Karen Larrabee

About the Artwork

"Shark Tail"

Media: Watercolor

Size: 22"w x 15"h

Price: $500

Artist Statement

The reference photo for this painting was taken on Caswell Beach, NC, where a dear Chapin friend has relocated. It was painted in washes with traditional watercolors while the whites were masked. The subject matter brought back memories of my dad when he loved to fish from the surf.

Artist Bio

Karen Larrabee

A past-president and 11 year board member of the Crooked Creek Art League, Karen Larrabee moved to Chapin, SC, 15 years ago and feels blessed by the move.

Karen was born and raised in northern NJ and loved to draw and paint since “forever, it seems”. Her awards began in high school where she had a wonderful and encouraging art program. Marietta College, a small, liberal arts school in Marietta, Ohio, lured her to the Midwest. She received a B.A. in art and education and eventually a Master’s of Liberal Learning, (yes, a MA.L.L. degree!) with concentrations in studio art, art history and art education, where her awards continued. While in Ohio, she married, raised a family and taught art for 30 years until her retirement in 2004, continuing to grow her resume. After her daughter transferred to USC, Karen and her husband, David, fell in love with the Midlands. The rest, as they say, “is history”. So far in SC she has been become a Member of Excellence in the South Carolina Watermedia Society, winning an award in 2016, she has been juried into the Greenwood Arts Festival, the Union Exhibit and the State Fair competition every year she has entered, receiving Patron Purchase Awards at the fair in 2009, 2011 and 2014 and a Merit award in 2017. She has also won 13 awards from the Crooked Creek Art League’s Juried Exhibitions including the People's Choice Award in 2014.

WORK EXPERIENCE: 1974 - 04 K-8 Art Teacher, Caldwell Exempted Village Schools, Caldwell, OH 1998 Adjunct Lecturer of Art in Edu., Muskingum College, New Concord, OH 1977 - 79 Day Camp Director, Betsey Mills Club, Marietta, OH 1975 - 76 Arts and Crafts Director, Marietta Department of Recreation, Marietta, OH

EDUCATION: 2007 - 19 Numerous professional workshops 2004 <20 C.E.U.s for workshops, grants, educational travel, etc. 1990 Ma.L.L. (Masters of Liberal Learning in Art/Art History/Art Education), Marietta College, Marietta, OH 1974 B.A., Marietta Collage - Art/Education

LEADERSHIP ROLES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS: 2013 -19 Crooked Creek Art League board member 2010 -13 Crooked Creek Art League Parliamentarian, Committee Rep, Chapin, SC 2008 -10 Crooked Creek Art League, President 2007 -08 Crooked Creek Art League, Vice President 2004 East Ohio Art Education Association's Outstanding Art Teacher 2003 -05 Regional Director for EOAEA 2001 The Mary Ellen Dwyer Memorial Teacher's Award for Outstanding Contribution to Art Education 1998 -00 EOAEA Workshop Coordinator 1999 OAEA Youth Art Month GLOBE Award 1997 - 99 OAEA Youth Art Month Flag Design Chairman 1994 - 96 Caldwell School's Mentor Teacher 1992 OAEA Nominee for Ohio's Art Educator of the Year 1991 - 92 Regional Director for EOAEA 1988 Buckeye Association of School Administrator's Award 1980 East OAEA Outstanding Art Teacher 1978 - 80 EOAEA PR/Advocacy Chairman

SC Juried AWARDS: 2021 Crooked Creek Art League Juried Exhibit - Ann Sweeney Memorial Award 2020 Crooked Creek Art League Juried Exhibit - Merit Award 2019 Crooked Creek Art League Juried Exhibit - 1st Place, USC Juror Award 2018 Crooked Creek Art League Juried Exhibit - Third Place Professional, Palmetto Fine Arts Award 2017 SC State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition - Merit Award 2017 Crooked Creek Art League Juried Exhibit - Merit Award 2016 SC Watermedia Society - City Art Award 2014 SC State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition - Patron Purchase Award 2014 Crooked Creek Art League Juried Exhibit - People's Choice Award 2012 SC State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition – Patron Purchase Award 2012 Crooked creek Art League Juried Exhibit – Third Place Professional 2010 Crooked creek Art League Juried Exhibit – Third Place Professional 2009 SC State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition – Patron Purchase Award 2009 Crooked Creek Art League Juried Exhibit - Patron Award 2008 Crooked Creek Art League Juried Exhibit - Invitation Postcard Award 2007 Crooked Creek Art League Juried Exhibit - Merit Award

You can see more of Karen's artwork on her gallery page at crookedcreekart.org/gallery/karen-larrabee.

Email Karen by clicking HERE.

CCAL Gallery Host:

Each month, CCAL shines a spotlight on one of our own. The Chapin Chamber of Commerce graciously features the art of this artist in their lobby in the CCAL Spotlight Artist Gallery.

This exhibit features one piece of wall hanging artwork per month.

The gallery is located in the lobby of the Chapin Chamber of Commerce at 302 Columbia Avenue in Chapin. It hosts a rotating display with a new piece from a Crooked Creek Art League artist featured each month.

For more on our public galleries, click HERE.