Hamaca
Karla Doell
Bio
Collecting inspiration from her travels, the artist has a passion for exploring new countries and cultures through her camera lens. Later, in her studio, Doell will incorporate her original photographic images into unique, mixed media paintings.
“As a photographer and painter, my work examines the use of photo-based images as a starting point, helping to initiate the painting process. Using anything from serene beaches, majestic trees or playful florals as a starting point, I’ll add unexpected color and marks; painterly brushstrokes, sprayed text or random drips, splatters and smudges – all to blur the lines of naturalism. Fusing both mediums allows me to create a fresh composition, aimed to satisfy and celebrate that never-ending wanderlust.
I continue to travel, photographing places that are full of culture and color, places that fan the inspiration for my next body of work.”
Curriculum Vitae
Originally from Saskatoon, Karla Doell moved to Kelowna with her husband and two cats, hoping to enjoy the easy rhythm of the Okanagan. She’s since become enchanted with her new city, and continually discovers inspiration and beauty in her surroundings; often incorporating her own photography of these discoveries into mixed media paintings.
“My work is very diverse as I implement a wide array of mediums such as acrylic, plaster, charcoal, pastels, encaustic, gel, and photo-based imagery. My paintings are derived from the intuitive. I never plan ahead but I paint in the moment, it’s really about yielding to the process and unearthing fresh potential. This practice allows my work to be free from expectations, removing boundaries and preconceptions, encouraging me to take more risks, and push the work to unexpected places. While I seem to gravitate towards beautiful composition, I always manage to fall in love with a process and sometimes allow it to take the lead. Color, spatial arrangement, and surface texture are also integral elements in my work. I’ll tweak layers of paint, collage or plaster, mark making and rubbing, adding and taking away until a piece feels finished.”
“As an artist/photographer I often transfer my images into my work, marrying painting and photography, two passions in one amiable love affair. Having done extensive travelling, I’ve been fortunate to amass a collection of interesting and sometimes thought-provoking images, which often become focal points or unique additions to a painting. My tree exhibition is a culmination of marrying these elements. With careful consideration of the transparency; each layer reflects its own light off the metal canvases, enhancing its materiality in an almost jewel-like way. On the other hand, the matt finish on the wood of my beach series celebrates the raw physicality of the image itself.”
“…I confess that my ongoing pursuit to celebrate beautiful scenes and characterize the features that inspire me, threatens to become a never-ending infatuation.”
2017 Faces, Spaces & Faces, trio, Sopa Fine Arts, Kelowna, BC
2016 Poetica, joint exhibition, Sopa Fine Arts, Kelowna, BC
2012 Snippets of Utopia, Sopa Fine Arts, Kelowna, B.C.
2011 Tagged, Sopa Fine Arts, Kelowna, BC
2009 BEAN Scene Coffee House (Bernard) Kelowna, B.C.
2009 BEAN Scene Coffee House (Ellis) Kelowna, B.C. – “5 Blackbirds”
2008 BEAN Scene Coffee House, (Bernard) Kelowna, B.C.
2007 Modern Art and Photography Show & Sale, Kelowna, B.C. “Veil a Nouveau – Old to New”
2007 BEAN Scene Coffee House, (North) Kelowna, B.C. “Mix It Up”
2006 Art au Jus Studio, Saskatoon SK – “Eclectic”
2006 Jakes on 21st Restaurant, Saskatoon, SK
2005 Jakes on 21st Restaurant, Saskatoon, SK
2018 Caboodle, group show, Sopa Fine Arts, Kelowna, BC
2017 Holiday Hoopla, group exhibition, Sopa Fine Arts, Kelowna, BC
2017 Selected Works, Group Show, Kelowna, BC
2016 Red, Green + In Between, Sopa Fine Arts, Kelowna, BC
2016 Grand Tour, Sopa Fine Arts, Kelowna, BC
2015 Hip to Be Square, Sopa Fine Arts, Kelowna, BC
2014 Wrapped in Colour, Sopa Fine Arts, Kelowna, BC
2013 Off the Hook, Sopa Fine Arts, Kelowna, BC
2012 We’re Making a List, Sopa Fine Arts, Kelowna, B.C.
2011 Gifted Group Show, Sopa Fine Arts, Kelowna, B.C.
2011 Sopa Fine Arts – 6th Annual U8 Event, Kelowna, B.C.
2010 Wrap it Up Again, Sopa Fine Arts, Kelowna, B.C.
2010 Sopa Fine Arts – 5th Annual U8 Event, Kelowna, B.C.
2009 One of a Kind Show and Sale, Vancouver, B.C.
2009 Artwalk, Lake Country, B.C.
2009 This Just In, Sopa Fine Arts, Kelowna, BC
2009 Music and Arts Festival Kelowna, Kelowna, B.C.
2009 Sopa Fine Arts – 4th Annual U8, Kelowna 2008 11th Annual Holiday Festival Of Creations, Kelowna, B.C.
2008 Kelowna Art Gallery’s’ 4th Annual Members’ Exhibition, Kelowna, B.C.-“Interplay”
2008 Artwalk, Lake Country, B.C. -“Creativity Uncorked”
2008 Creative Chaos Craft Show, Vernon, B.C.
2008 Kelowna’s 5th Annual Life and Arts Festival, Kelowna, B.C.
2008 Sopa Fine Arts – 3rd Annual U8 Event, Kelowna, B.C
2007 Kelowna’s 4th Annual Life and Arts Festival, Kelowna, B.C.
2007 Kelowna Art Gallery’s’ 3rd Annual Members’ Exhibition, Kelowna, B.C.- “Convergence”
2007 Artwalk, Lake Country, B.C.- “Imagine The Masters”
2007 Sopa Fine Arts – 2nd Annual U8 Event, Kelowna, B.C.
2006 Saskatoon Festival of the Arts, Saskatoon, SK
2006 Art au Jus, Saskatoon, SK – “New Studio, New Works”
2006 St. Thomas Moore Gallery, Saskatoon, SK – “Out of the Gate”
2006 Magenta Gallery, The Center East Galleries, Saskatoon, SK
2005 Saskatoon Festival of the Arts, Saskatoon, SK
2012 Hospice Association Benefit for COHA, Kelowna, B.C.
2011Midlife Madness Fundraising Event for Family Services, Saskatoon, SK
2010 Midlife Madness Fundraising Event for Family Services, Saskatoon, SK
2010 Plan Okanagan Fundraiser for Children/adults with Disabilities, Kelowna, B.C.
2008 9th Annual Evergreen Fundraiser Event, RCA, Youth Arts Education Programming, Kelowna, B.C.
2008 The Kelowna Art Gallery’s Seeing Red & White Annual Fundraiser, Kelowna, B.C
2008 Midlife Madness Fantasy Auction for Family Services, Saskatoon, SK
2008 Art On The Line Fund-raiser for UBC, Visual Arts Program, Kelowna, B.C.
2007 Casorso Elementary School Fundraiser, Art donation, Kelowna , B.C.
2007 The Kelowna Art Gallery’s Seeing Red & White Annual Fundraiser, Kelowna, B.C.
2007 Midlife Madness Fantasy Auction for Family Services, Saskatoon, SK
2006 Donation to Best Buy, Spring Extravaganza, Saskatoon, SK
2006 Midlife Madness Fundraising event for Family Services, Saskatoon, SK
2006 Christian Centre Academy Auction, Saskatoon, SK
2006 PLWA, People Living with Aids, Art Auction, Saskatoon, SK
2005 Artist Against Hunger, 15th Annual Art Auction, Friendship Inn, Saskatoon, SK