ABOUT THE ARTIST
Karen Wall Garrison, born and raised in Long Beach, CA- is mostly a self-taught artist.
Her "formal" art education began in the generously-funded public school system of the sixties and seventies,
where she attended Newcomb Elementary, Marshall Jr. High and Millikan High School.
She attended honors programs in the visual and performing arts, and studied ballet and violin.
Her first art class was at the age of 5 at California State University Long Beach, by special invitation for young artist prodigies.
Throughout K-12, Karen won awards and scholarships with her art, and began her commercial art career at age 17 with
menu illustrations for the Hof's Hut Restaurant chain. She attended LB City College, CSULB, San Antonio Community College,
Golden West College and Coastline Community Colleges, never earning a degree- but focused her studies on visual art, graphic design, dance and career enhancement.
Karen is a former partner of award-winning Graphic Design firm, Via Media. She also owned Artistry Custom Fine Art, and has made her "mark" all over
Long Beach for clients like Long Beach Transit, LB Chamber of Commerce, Downtown Long Beach Associates, St. Mary Medical Center,
Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach and many other local businesses and organizations. She continued to create graphics,
while developing her "custom fine art" services, gradually doing less graphic design- and more painting.
"I started doing graphic design when it was called "commercial art," before computers were used, and everything was done by hand." says Karen, "
Once the computer became our primary tool; I missed drawing, painting, rendering with markers, and inking at a drafting table. I participated in a local
sidewalk chalk fund raiser. After spending all day painting with pastels, my desire to paint again was ignited! That led to my first large portrait commission in 1997,
and I've been painting more and more ever since. I continue to do graphic design for Long Beach Transit, which has been a very nice relationship for more than 2 decades.
I recently illustrated a 16-page coloring book for them."
Her murals can be seen in popular restaurants along 2nd Street in Belmont Shore; including George's Greek Café, NY's
Upper Crust Pizza and La Creperie. She has also painted walls and ceilings in residences from Irvine, CA to Tacoma, WA.
Karen now offers "Live Event Painting". She sets up her easel and paints a vibrant and colorful canvas, capturing the event as it happens!
A great way to commemorate your special occasion-it's a perfect addition to weddings, corporate parties, fund raisers, music festivals, or any other gathering.
Married to Jack Garrison, a computer technician, together they have two artistic offspring; Matthew Robert and Samantha Lee.
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