SHORT BIO
Karen Jacobsen loves painting and drawing. Growing up between the San Francisco Bay Area, and the rural alpine playground of Sun Valley Idaho, Jacobsen has been captivated by the visual energy and abundance of the natural world. Encouraged from the very start by her mother, also a painter and sculptor, to ”always draw from life” Jacobsen earned a BA in Fine Arts from University of California Santa Cruz and Masters degree in Science Communication and Illustration. Developing a unique outlook combining art and science has given her a keen eye for capturing the subtle to austere beauty of her subjects, both small and large. As a member of the Plein Air Painters of Idaho, the Idaho Watercolor Society, and the Guild of Natural Science Illustrators, she is constantly observing and painting, from the high mountain landscapes, to the edge of the sea.
Jacobsen also accepts commissions for specific subjects, custom murals,
and to travel the world working with research scientists as expeditionary illustrator.
Jacobsen also accepts commissions for specific subjects, custom murals,
and to travel the world working with research scientists as expeditionary illustrator.
EXHIBITS AND AWARDS
Point Gallery, Meridian, ID. May 2009
Gaia Gallery, Eagle, ID. Nov, 2009 - 2011
Plein Air Painters of Idaho Annual Redfish Event Aug 2008 thru 2016
-2015 Honorable Mention
-2016 People’s Choice Award
Ketchum Arts Festival 2011, 2012
Idaho State Historical Museum, February 2012
Herrett Center for Arts and Science, May 2012
Driggs Plein Air Painting Festival July 2012, 2013, 2014
2012 1st Place award, Judge: Scott Christensen
2013 Honorable Mention, Judge: Scott Christensen
2017 Honorable Mention Judge : Aaron Schuerr
2018 2nd Place award, Judges : Ned Mueller, Bill Swaczuck
Lee Gallery "Realism Without Borders" December 2012
Yellowstone Art Museum, January 2012, 2013, 2014
The Art Museum of Eastern Idaho, Aug 2013 "Art Idaho"
Solo exhibition: Sotheby’s Office Ketchum ID Winter 2013
Water Works Art Museum Invitational Exhibit and Auction, August 2014
Visual Art Exchange Raleigh, NC October 2014 3rd Place Award
National Science Foundation Visualization Challenge 2014, Top 10 Illustration Finalist
Lipton Fine Arts,"Everything is True" Ketchum ID Winter 2015
Art and Soul Twin Falls ID. Watercolor Award 2015
Art and Soul Twin Falls ID. Honorable Mention 2016
Waterworks Art Museum, Confluence Show, Source Tek Award 2016
Water Works 38th Annual Juried Exhibit “The Confluence” Honorable Mention 2017
Zion Bank, Boise ID. May 2017, 2018, 2019
Helper Plein Air 2019 Honorable Mention Judge: Michael Workman
Gaia Gallery, Eagle, ID. Nov, 2009 - 2011
Plein Air Painters of Idaho Annual Redfish Event Aug 2008 thru 2016
-2015 Honorable Mention
-2016 People’s Choice Award
Ketchum Arts Festival 2011, 2012
Idaho State Historical Museum, February 2012
Herrett Center for Arts and Science, May 2012
Driggs Plein Air Painting Festival July 2012, 2013, 2014
2012 1st Place award, Judge: Scott Christensen
2013 Honorable Mention, Judge: Scott Christensen
2017 Honorable Mention Judge : Aaron Schuerr
2018 2nd Place award, Judges : Ned Mueller, Bill Swaczuck
Lee Gallery "Realism Without Borders" December 2012
Yellowstone Art Museum, January 2012, 2013, 2014
The Art Museum of Eastern Idaho, Aug 2013 "Art Idaho"
Solo exhibition: Sotheby’s Office Ketchum ID Winter 2013
Water Works Art Museum Invitational Exhibit and Auction, August 2014
Visual Art Exchange Raleigh, NC October 2014 3rd Place Award
National Science Foundation Visualization Challenge 2014, Top 10 Illustration Finalist
Lipton Fine Arts,"Everything is True" Ketchum ID Winter 2015
Art and Soul Twin Falls ID. Watercolor Award 2015
Art and Soul Twin Falls ID. Honorable Mention 2016
Waterworks Art Museum, Confluence Show, Source Tek Award 2016
Water Works 38th Annual Juried Exhibit “The Confluence” Honorable Mention 2017
Zion Bank, Boise ID. May 2017, 2018, 2019
Helper Plein Air 2019 Honorable Mention Judge: Michael Workman
