Karen Blair is a contemporary artist known for her abstract interpretations of the natural world, blending observation with memory and emotion. Deeply inspired by Maine’s coastal terrain and light, her work often captures the layered rhythms of sky, land, and water—filtered through a painterly shorthand she’s developed over decades. "There is always some event: a shift of light, a breeze, or a fragrance," she says. "It is important to be present for that." Based in Charlottesville, Virginia, Karen maintains strong ties to Maine, a place that continually inspires her work and where she returns often to visit friends. She counts artists like Lois Dodd, Reggie Burrows Hodges, Fairfield Porter, and Milton Avery among her influences, and sees herself in a long tradition of painters drawn to Maine’s shifting atmosphere and expansive vistas. Karen's background as a gardener and student of garden design informs her approach to landscape. Whether depicting sweeping aerial views or intimate terrains, she paints not just what she sees, but what she feels—often infusing her compositions with the ephemeral qualities of time, season, and memory. While rooted in place, her paintings remain open to interpretation. "I want to leave space and air and room for people," she explains, comparing the viewing of art to reading a novel: "People bring their own experience into that narrative." Her paintings are held in hospital collections and public spaces, where she hopes they offer moments of respite and grounding. "I’ve received messages from people saying the work offered a brief moment of peace during challenging times," she says. "If it took them out of themselves for ten minutes, that’s everything."" Karen paints from a light-filled studio in Charlottesville and exhibits widely. She is especially energized by travel, collaboration, and the quiet observation of nature. Hear more about Karen's artistic influences and creative philosophy on Radio Maine.