Karen Mooney Verified listing

My name is Karen Mooney, and I am an artist based in New Jersey. My creative journey began in the early 2000s following the tragic death of my son. Driven by the need to express my emotions and find moments of solace, I turned to art as a means of healing.

The aesthetics of glass and color profoundly influence my work. I draw inspiration from life experiences, such as grief, sadness, and joy. I aim to capture the essence of these emotions in vibrant and beautiful pieces of artwork. This pursuit allows me to explore and convey feelings of hope and happiness to others.

The central themes of my art revolve around life experiences and a desire for everyone to feel accepted and loved. I express a range of emotions—joy, grief, anger, and many others—delving into the everyday emotional experiences shared by humanity. This approach invites viewers to embark on introspective journeys, encouraging them to find hope in their lives.

My creative process is both intuitive and deliberate. It begins when I receive inspiration, evolving through layers of color and contrast. I often experiment with color combinations that may not typically go together and use various mediums, including glass, beads, and fiber. I enjoy working with ink, watercolor, and Derwent Inktense pencils to add depth and complexity to my work. Each piece reflects a dialogue between my conscious intentions and subconscious impulses, creating a rich fusion of color and texture.

Ultimately, I aim to evoke acceptance and equality for everyone while fostering a deeper connection between the viewer and the artwork. I strive to create pieces that reflect my personal narrative and resonate universally, touching on shared human experiences and emotions.

Color has always been one of my greatest inspirations. I think of myself as a Visual Artist working in many mediums. Some of my earliest memories involve sitting at the kitchen table with a massive box of Crayola crayons and blank white paper. I loved scribbling and mixing all the colors I could on one paper. Seeing the colors meld into a cohesive whole fascinated me.

I used color to express emotions when I began working with fused glass. I experienced a shift later as I began to create my first glass costume, Joseph’s Cloak of Many Colors. My perception moved towards seeing people as expressions of humanity, showing the wide variety and shades of all ethnicities. Attempting to visualize the biblical description of heaven, I was inspired to see the gemstones described become symbols of the many skin colors throughout our world. Placing colors that aren't traditionally perceived to go well together with intentionality and thought is how I express my belief that God intended us to value and respect each other when He created the gorgeous mosaic of life.