Karen J.S. Tashjian received a BS in Design, Fine Arts, and Architecture, and a B.Arch. in Architecture, both from Cornell University. She has been painting seriously for about 25 years and currently paints full-time. In the past, she practiced architecture in NYS as a licensed architect, and taught Architectural Design Studio at the University at Buffalo for 18 years. She has a painting studio in Buffalo in the industrial Niagara Frontier Food Terminal., and also one at home, a passive solar residence which she designed. “My goal is to live life as an artist, directed by my creativity and by my moral compass. I aspire to live an impassioned life that is proactive and committed to the things I hold dear.