About

Meet Karen

Karen has been a creator since childhood, but a portrait class at age 14 unexpectedly propelled her into an art career. Her love for coffee was born in the late Kaldi’s Coffeehouse in New Orleans, where she would go everyday to sketch her fellow French Quarter locals while sipping a black coffee with a dash of nutmeg on top.

After moving back home to Tulsa, Oklahoma, she was introduced to the joys of top-quality espresso at Nordaggio’s Coffee, and finally the link between coffee and art connected when she began painting with it there in 1998.

Soon she learned the art of espresso itself by becoming a barista, and can be spotted sometimes working at Backporch Coffee Roasters in Bend, Oregon, where she now resides. Painting in coffee is a refreshing break from Karen’s work in oils, watercolor, and pencil.

About Coffee Creations

“Coffee art is a truly unique art form. It requires a thoughtful and delicate touch. Capturing the depth of these classic works is only possible through a slow and sophisticated process of building layers upon layers of espresso.

I first thought of the idea of painting with coffee while watching rich, red-brown espresso pouring perfectly into my cup. As I enjoyed my hot latte, it occured to me that perhaps I could take my passion for coffee to a deeper level. So I dipped my brush and began painting, and to my delight, it worked beautifully.

Painting with coffee is a completely enjoyable experience… I like to paint in a coffee shop, immersed in the delicious aroma of freshly ground coffee and sounds of low conversation, which continue to inspire me as I watch my brush add new dimensions to the painting.

I hope that each painting brings you into the same warm atmosphere.”

–Karen

Latest Press

Nov27

Dubai!

I just returned from a whirlwind trip to Dubai, United Arab Emirates. I was invited to the Middle East Coffee&Tea Convention, to share my art and paint some prizes for the barista championship. Here I am lugging my tradeshow booth stuff past the world’s tallest building.

Dubai is a city of skyscrapers, impossible but real islands shaped like palm trees, indoor ski resorts, deserts, horse and camel races, excellent food and more giant malls than any place needs. Here are some highlights:

Dubai is new to the specialty coffee world, having mostly chains that any European or North American is familiar with. For my first coffee in Dubai, I wasn’t expecting much as I ordered a ‘flat white’ (perhaps what an Oregonian would call a ‘traditional cappuccino’) at the huge chain Costa Coffee, but was impressed by the great latte art! Sipping it in the world’s largest mall, viewing the indoor ski slope, hearing the Muslim call to prayer over the loudspeaker, was a perfect way to start the trip. A different mall is extravagantly decorated in themes of Persia, China, and more. Ever seen a Starbucks in a more glorious setting?

I chose my own subject for the coffee painting prize, and yet it turned out to be champion Matt Toogood’s favorite espresso machine! The 2nd and 3rd place winners received paintings of latte art.

Here’s my booth:

The generous event organizers provided a delicious buffet every night at the 5star Meydan hotel, overlooking the racetrack where the world’s richest horse race is held. Somehow I missed getting a photo of the 30+ choices of Indian and Middle Eastern foods.
A trip to Dubai is not complete without some crazy experiences. On the same day, I got to swim in the warm, wavy, extra-salty Persian Gulf, then go snowboarding, and yes, it’s REAL snow. I’m from a ski town in Oregon, but I must admit this little mountain wasn’t bad! You never have to worry about poor conditions or sleet in your face. Maybe boredom with only 2 runs though. I don’t know anywhere else on earth that you can be swimming in warm lovely ocean water and less than one hour later be skiing, but it’s a nice combination.