Karen M Cluchey

Chicago based artist, Karen Cluchey, has recently re-engaged in her life long passion as an artist.  Karen was interested in art and drawing since she was a small child.  Sundays meant a visit to Grandma and Grandpa’s house for dinner where she admired her Aunt’s many paintings.  Often times the afternoon was filled with blank sheets of scratch paper leftover from her Grandmother’s office and a pencil to draw freely for hours.  She continued her love for art all through school including award-winning art in High School.  In 1985 Karen received her B.F.A. with an emphasis in illustration from Northern Illinois University School of Art. 

After graduation and 15 years into a successful career as a graphic designer, her life was suddenly put on hold by a unexpected medical emergency. Therefore, Karen's art was also put on hold.  With the overwhelming support of friends and family and her shear drive and determination, she eventually regained 85% of her skills and abilities.

With this new gift of a second chance at life, and overcoming the odds before her, she looked at the world much differently.  Karen now focused on the beauty of each day while pondering what her new purpose in life would be.  She knew it was time to walk away from the business world and focus on her family, the community of which supported her through a successful surgery and eventually, her passion for art, drawing, painting and pottery.  

Karen and her husband more fully valued the importance of creating experiences and memories because of her previous medical set back.  So, they began traveling whenever possible. On their many travels, Karen began looking more closely and appreciating the colors and shapes nature provided. She was inspired to take hundreds of photographs of sunsets, tropical flowers, lush greenery and blue waters of the sea, storing them in files marked “Karen’s art”, to one day again be able to sit at her drawing table or pottery wheel and create. 

Finally, after many years, Karen has been able to fully utilize her artistic abilities to capture on paper/canvas what nature has to share.  Her appreciation for the simplicity of shape, bold color, and contrast of nature’s beauty are very evident in her artwork today.  And, with the Covid lockdown, came her inspiration to also return to clay and the pottery wheel once again.