Biography

I grew up in Casper Wyoming. Rock hounding, fly fishing and exploring the state occupied my summers. Las Cruces reminds me a lot of Casper. Both are high desert but here, you don’t get a ton of snow. There is quite a bit more cactus here and a few more people but about the same number of rattle snakes.

During the hot afternoons of our summer vacation, Mom gave my brothers and me art lessons in the cool basement so we wouldn’t suffer heat stroke out playing Whiffle ball or Spy. I learned about vanishing points and the color wheel. I have never had any formal training and am basically self- taught.

I have always enjoyed a variety of creative projects; from furniture painting, to stamp carving, to jewelry making. I have even written a couple of books which are safely stashed in a drawer where they belong. I started painting in 2000. I had Fridays off so that was my paint day. I decided a photo that I took on a trip through the Southwest would make a really nice painting. I bought some acrylic paints and painted it. It turned out really well. I just kept painting every Friday. I like working with acrylics. They dry fast and have vibrant colors. I don’t have the patience to use oils.

For me, painting has a universal appeal. I am able to reach a much larger audience than I found with other mediums. My painting allows me to share my passion for the beauty of the Southwest, particularly the desert.

Having lived for many years in Seattle, I developed a deep appreciation for blue sky. That sky is evident in many of my works. I also like the juxtaposition of things man-made with the harshness of the desert. It seems, given time, the desert always wins. I like that. I think it gives you a healthy perspective.

Living in the Pacific Northwest, we spent many vacations in the Southwest and it was inevitable that I relocate. From the first time I saw the desert, I knew I had come home. My goal is to present an image that is startling, arresting and at the same time beautiful. I want to share this beauty with anyone willing to take the time to look around.

K.A. Carpenter

Artist