KarenBessetteArt

I’m Karen, the owner of KarenBessetteArt. Welcome!!

I began as an artist at a very young age, when my parents enrolled me in art class at our local museum. I loved it! I haven’t stopped creating since. I earned my BFA from the Rhode Island School of Design and I continue to explore many different art forms and media. I'm humbled to have won awards for my collages and to have my work in private collections throughout the United States.

I use hand-painted papers, sheet music, maps, antique magazine pages and other materials to create my collages. These materials along with painting techniques build a texture-filled image where – I hope - the viewer will notice something new each time they view the collage. I also love to use ink and color pencil to create whimsical scenes and illustrations.

My inspirations? I live in Manchester, NH with my two rescue pugs, Beans and Mack. New England is a joy, and its very distinct seasons feed my work. Manchester, which sits on the Merrimack River, started as a cotton mill town; the imposing mill buildings have been repurposed, they still dominate the city landscape, and we are very proud of them. I like to imagine the activity in buildings, neighborhoods and cities; what's happening behind doors and windows. When I’m not creating visual images, I love to garden, read, take in local community theatre, bake, and much more. My inspiration is in everyday beauty and my New England home.

My hope is that you find some joy, a light moment, and that my pictures make you smile.

Thanks for reading my story. Enjoy my shop!