Karen Bell, Fine Art Photographer
Karen has been photographing and creating images of the world for over twenty five years. Graduating with a B.A. in English & psychology from Carleton University, Karen continued her education at Algonquin College graduating with Honours from the Photographic Arts program.
Starting her career working at Valberg Imaging, Karen was also the project manager and photography assistant for Michelle Valberg’s photo book Dare to Dream; A Celebration of Canadian Women, and now focuses her energy on creating Fine Art. Karen owns Belle Images & Design and is a juried member of the Kanata Civic Art Gallery, as well as being a member of CAPIC and the West Carleton Arts Society.
Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Karen has lived in Canada, Mexico & the USA and has traveled to many parts of Europe, North America, Russia, Australia & Hong Kong. She now resides in Ottawa, but spends as much time as possible in the Muskoka area of Ontario. She loves to travel and is always ready to go where the light brings her, capturing natural and urban landscapes along the way.
Movement and impressionism are strong themes in much of Karen’s current body of work. All the movement seen in Karen’s images is created during the shooting process. Working with the camera and technical understanding she ‘crafts’ movement. Karen is creative with light and manipulates it to form the vision she has in her mind.
Karen has enjoyed being a member of the KCAG since 2017 and has participated in many juried shows, such as the One of a Kind Show in Toronto, The New Art Festival in Ottawa and the McMichael Autumn Artisan Market in Kleinburg.
Artist Statement:
Photographing the world makes me feel connected: to the earth, to people and experiences, past and present. There is a creative feeling I get while exploring a location and working with my tools, and that feeling helps me focus and form an image stemming from my inner vision. The natural world draws and inspires me. Whether I am traveling near or far, I love capturing and crafting images that evoke emotion, awaken energy and calls to the spirit within us all.