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Karen Vance was born in Chicago into the Swartwout family of artists, of six generations.  Her upbringing and education; the Art Institute of Chicago, Village Art School in Skokie, Denver Art Student’s League and Northern Illinois University brought her to her passion and profession. Vance’s art career includes nearly 12 years as a graphic artist and the past 20 years creating fine art professionally.  Karen’s paintings have found their place in Wells

Karen Vance was born in Chicago into the Swartwout family of artists, of six generations.  Her upbringing and education; the Art Institute of Chicago, Village Art School in Skokie, Denver Art Student’s League and Northern Illinois University brought her to her passion and profession.

Vance’s art career includes nearly 12 years as a graphic artist and the past 20 years creating fine art professionally.  Karen’s paintings have found their place in Wells Fargo Bank of Denver, First Interstate Bank of Wyoming andMontana, The Grand County Historical Association, Winter Park Resort Association, the Winter Park Arlberg Club, Devil’s Thumb Ranch Resort, the and in the notable private collections of  Sharon Magnus, Rob and Terri Ryan, Shirley and Tuffy Holland, Bob and Paige Lee and fellow artists; Quang Ho, Hollis Williford and Russell Chatham.  Vance is a member of the National Arts Club, and California Art Club, a Signature Member of both the National Academy of Professional Plein Air Painters and Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters, and is a Master Signature Member of American Women Artists.        

Shows and Awards include: Buffalo Bill Cody Auction – Judge’s Honorable Mention andPeople’s Choice Award; the C.M. Russell Auction – People’s Choice Award andArlene Hooker Fay Memorial Award; theRocky Mountain Plein Air Painters – Best of Show, andPublisher’s Choice Award fromPlein Air Magazine;   the Colorado Governor's Invitational - Best of Show; Plein Air Painters of America - Guest Artist: American Women Artists – Guest Artist; The Bradford Brinton Museum Invitational; theGreeley Western Stampede; Hockaday Museum’s Miniature Show; Montana Land Reliance &  Treasure State Show Hamilton, Montana and10 – “sold out” solo shows since 1999.

Karen has been featured in Art of the West,  SouthwestArt,  Wildlife Art, Inform Art, Magazinesand in the book, “Enchanted Isle: The History of Plein Air Painting on Santa Catalina Island”.  Vance has been awarded a 2006-2007 Residency and Exhibition at YosemiteNational Park that will also include a painting for the National Park’s permanent collection.  Karen teaches workshops and was awarded a teaching grant from the Buffalo Bill Cody Historical Museum.

In February of 2006, Karen received a 100 painting commission.  This group of paintings will depict images of Grand County, Colorado, and will be permanently installed at the Five Starr Devil’s Thumb Ranch Resort, 10 miles North of Winter Park, Colorado.  A book of this collection will be published and available in 2008.