Q&A – Questions & Artists – Karen Lee DeNoto

Painting by Karen Lee DeNoto

I first met Karen Lee DeNoto eight years ago when I began attending Door County Art League (DCAL) meetings. On a perfect summer day our plein air group from DCAL met and painted at Karen’s country home. I was up on a hill looking down on her home and out buildings and spent a wonderful morning creating my impression of the scene.

Karen Lee and her husband Bob, (her framer), live in the Door Country countryside on a beautiful six acres. I have watched Karen Lee over the years evolve into a great painter achieving her own style. You can see this in the images of her soft muted paintings. She is positive about her painting and positive about life – a good combination.

Randy Rasmussen (RR): Karen where were you born and raised?

Karen Lee DeNoto (KLD): I was born in Hartford, Connecticut, and raised and grew up in Simsbury, Connecticut. After high school I attended Junior College studying art. Eventually when my husband I and moved to Illinois I received by bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin.

RR: Did you always enjoy art?

KLD: Always. I remember as a little girl sitting under a tree drawing. I enjoyed drawing so much and this passion stayed with me as I grew older.

Painting by Karen Lee DeNoto.

RR: Did you have a supportive family?

KLD: Both my mother and father were greatly supportive. My father loved to do artwork for me. He told me about George Washington and then did a portrait to illustrate who he was talking about.

His mother, my grandmother, who came from Sweden, was interested in art and did a large portrait of my father that is now a cherished possession.

RR: In our discussions, you said you worked as a graphic artist for a printing company in New Haven, Connecticut.

KLD: Yes, and that was where I met my husband Bob. Bob was offered a job at Abbot Labs outside of Chicago and that is why we moved to the Midwest in 1989 and eventually moved to Door County.

RR: You told me you used to vacation in Door County and it reminded you of Connecticut.

KLD: My husband loved the water and we fell in love with the area. We both decided Door County would be a wonderful place to live.

Painting by Karen Lee DeNoto.

RR: When did you move to Door County?

KLD: We moved to our home in Door County in 1995. I started selling real estate and started painting again. I began to get serious about my painting about nine years ago and began taking workshops. I have taken workshops with Bonita Budysz, Bonnie Paruch, and Jim Hempel.

RR: How do you think your work has changed over the past few years? I remember you and I took an outdoor oil painting workshop and I have seen definite changes in your results.

KLD: My work has become softer, more gentle with a subdued palette. I like using atmospheric colors. I think my work could be described as semi-realistic with an impressionistic pull.

RR: Who do you currently paint with?

KLD: I paint with Loretta Kelly, Mac Schubert and many other people from Plymouth and Pembine. The group varies every time we go out.

RR: What to you makes a good painting?

KLD: I want my painting to tell a story, to draw the viewer into the scene. Essentially the work has to convey an emotion.

Painting by Karen Lee DeNoto.

RR: Do you have any special colors on your palette and what type of oils do you use?

KLD: I use Classic oils, which I learned about from Bonita Budysz. They are so buttery, I don’t have to use a medium. I don’t use the thalos because in my opinion they are too bright. My palette consists of eight to 12 colors.

RR: Who are your three favorite artists?

KLD: There are so many great artists, but three whose work I really enjoy are Dali Higa, Calvin Liang and Dan McCraw.

RR: What is your feeling about the future of art?

KLD: I think art tells us our history, the past and present. There is so much to appreciate in art it has to continue as we fulfill our need to create.

RR: Can you read to me what you have on the back of your business card?

KLD: “Art is a passion, flowing from the soul, speaking softly, quietly to the soul of the receiver.”

RR: Thank you.

For more information about Karen Lee DeNoto (who also does commissions) or set up an appointment to view more of her work at Passionate Palette Studio and Gallery in Sturgeon Bay, call 920.559.3278 or email [email protected].