Karen McCool Verified

As a contemporary realist oil painter, I’m inspired by the word Sonder, (noun, from the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows): “the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as our own.” My work seeks to encourage compassion through connection and belonging.

I began using retro photos as inspiration for my work, after seeing how much joy my mom got from looking through old photo albums, even when she didn’t recognize the people (she had dementia). I paint nostalgic, often humorous moments that are meant to remind the viewer of our shared history, and that we’re all in this together. And so much the better if it leads to a laugh.

I’m inspired by the word Sonder, (noun, from the Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows): “the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as our own.” I began using retro photos as inspiration for my work, after seeing how much joy my mom got from looking through old photo albums, even when she didn’t recognize the people (she had dementia). I paint nostalgic, often humorous moments that are meant to remind the viewer of our shared history, and that we’re all in this together. And so much the better if it leads to a laugh.

My prodigious career began in elementary school where I mastered the craft of macaroni art, and the making of things with popsicle sticks. I soon began dabbling in play dough, but quickly progressed to the medium of (and oh, be still my beating heart):  “shrinky dinks”. But with all humility, you simply wouldn’t believe the things I could create with some googlie eyes and glue. Epic.

My work will be included in the upcoming Create! Magazine’s Issue 44 "Annual Women's Issue 2024” and Photo Trouvee's upcoming Issue 13, both coming out around June 2024. This summer, I will also be in a group show at the Peninsula Gallery, in Lewes, DE and will have my third solo show at Beacon Art Gallery in Stone Harbor, NJ.