August 21, 2019
Art in the park
BY TYSON SMEDSTAD
Award-winning artist Karen Bakke spent a week painting at Fort Stevenson State Park as the Artist in Residence. Bakke is from Fargo and is a proud N.D. native with a 42 year career in art.
She took an art class in high school as a slough class, but her teacher Sister Gertrude lit the fire inside her that led to her career as an artist.
“Sister Gertrude demanded I come back the next year for art classes,” Bakke said. “And you just did whatever Sister Gertrude said. Who knew that it would end up being life.”
In her art she is most often recognized for her execution of the eyes in animal and human portraits, which she gives a great deal of attention to.
This week Bakke spent most of her time focusing on landscapes. She painted numerous prairies and bluffs around the park and also the lake. She also took pictures of the prairie wildflowers and painted them.
On Friday, Aug. 16 Bakke held a discussion in the park's amphitheater to discuss her week long experience in the park. She spoke about her week spent here and showed a sample of the works she created during it.
She took an art class in high school as a slough class, but her teacher Sister Gertrude lit the fire inside her that led to her career as an artist.
“Sister Gertrude demanded I come back the next year for art classes,” Bakke said. “And you just did whatever Sister Gertrude said. Who knew that it would end up being life.”
In her art she is most often recognized for her execution of the eyes in animal and human portraits, which she gives a great deal of attention to.
This week Bakke spent most of her time focusing on landscapes. She painted numerous prairies and bluffs around the park and also the lake. She also took pictures of the prairie wildflowers and painted them.
On Friday, Aug. 16 Bakke held a discussion in the park's amphitheater to discuss her week long experience in the park. She spoke about her week spent here and showed a sample of the works she created during it.
