Karen H. Spencer, a native Mississippian, practiced law for thirty plus years before studying oil painting. Karen draws upon Mississippi’s picturesque landscapes and techniques learned from painting instructors: Mississippi oil painter, Bob Tompkins, the late Joe Anna Arnett, nationally collected landscape painters Matthew Read Smith and Michael Lynch, and internationally acclaimed Los Angeles oil painter - Jove Wang to create a uniquely southern sense style and place. Karen primarily paints from life, creating floral still life works from David Austin roses, colorful camellias and beautiful local flora all grown in her backyard. Karen’s floral works are distinctly informed by her studies with Stephanie Birdsall and Elizabeth Robbins. Karen is a collector of nests of the birds of Mississippi and uses her collection to create colorful still life works. When Karen is not painting bird nests, she produces unique still life images of Mississippi Gulf Coast oyster shells. Karen usually paints from life but has been inspired by the beautiful photography of Sam King, a well-known Mississippi wildlife photographer to create oil paintings of Mississippi barns and birds. You can follow Karen on Instagram @khspencerart and learn more about the artist at karenspencerart.com