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A little bit about Karen Howard....

I have sawdust in my veins. No I'm not a circus performer, but a whittler. When my Gramma Grace visited she had asked my mother what she should bring to teach one of us 4 grandchildren- her basket weaving, painting materials, or wood carving knives and wood. So it was decided the carving tools would be much less complicated. I was the one chosen to learn this craft as I was at the perfect age, not a cool teen like my older sibling or too young to handle the knives as my little sister was. And I didn't mind. It was almost fun. But this 9 year old had no inclination to work and hone her craft.

Jump ahead 15 years and Gramma was back for a visit to see the brand- new granddaughter who eventually grew into her own art, Kerry Schmidt (papermoongallery.etsy.com). But this time we whittled a pair of wooden trolls which are still on display. Gramma convinced me that I had carved them but I'm sure she did most of the detail work.

Now take another 7 year jump in time; Gramma's now whittlin' birds and horses for the angels. I became a housebound caregiver for my husband who was injured in a car accident which required several weeks of recovery. So, bored in the tiny farm town we had recently moved to, I picked up the knife again and started carving and became very serious this time. Waterfowl became the focus of my creative desire so I sculpted many ducks, geese, swans, and quail for professional competitions. Even earned a few blue ribbons. In the 80s I received a Master Folk Art Grant from the San Joaquin Art Council and James C. Irving Foundation. Since that time I have graduated/regressed, depending on how you see it, to a less perfect style of carving, which means I never have to look at another piece of sandpaper.

I have spoken to different art groups and other organizations, taught 5th grade classes, taught half-way house classes, given private lessons, taught friends how to bring that sunburst out of that piece of basswood, and have been involved in way too many shows. We live way up on the Northern California coast, way out on the edge of this continent. in a somewhat tourist attracting town and I had a fun gallery/gift store in downtown Ferndale for 10 years. Now that I am retired (yeah, sure) I am quite happy to work in my home studio on pieces for my Etsy and always... shows.

I hope you enjoy the selection I've put together for this month's PFATT Marketplace.

~ Karen Howard