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Royal Oak artist makes art from found objects

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Published on Thursday, 16 August 2012 08:26

Written by Jane McConnell

Visit artist Karen O'Dowd's studio in Royal Oak, and your eyes are in for an education, as you start seeing common items used in new ways.

Beneath vaulted ceilings, her walls sport creations that include a clock made with old silver spoons and forks; two whimsical fish made from a composite of materials, and numerous paintings. Everywhere you look throughout the living area, something catches your eye. There is even an old Amana refrigerator that now acts as a cabinet, holding many of Karen's tools, paints, and stains.

Using everyday objects to create unusual works of art is the premise behind Karen O'Dowd's business, aptly titled, Karen's Scraps.

As you approach Karen's front door you pass a large sculpture of metal and acrylic. "Did you see my flower when you came in?" she asks. It was hard to miss. Who would have thought to create a flower made from license plates and other found materials? Full of energy, Karen delighted in showing me the ins and outs of her studio home, including her latest creation of glass sail boats lit from behind on copper waves. It was impossible to separate home from art and studio; it all blended together perfectly.

Karen's life has been nearly as eclectic as her art. She began her married life in California, and raised her children (she was widowed when they were teenagers) in Portland, Ore. She taught school, worked in redevelopment and historic preservation, and worked as a furniture painter. It was at a mind-opening retreat on assemblage art that Karen found the door to this passage in her life. She moved to Maryland's Eastern Shore to be nearer her mother and sister, and found herself part of the vibrant art community in nearby St. Michaels.

Karen has used what she learned during her days in design and redevelopment to transform a fairly typical house with attached garage into a unique home and showcase. She also offers workshops in which she teaches others how to create their own assemblage art.

You can see Karen's work on exhibit at The Green Phoenix in Easton and Annapolis on Main Street.

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