Artist Statement

 

Artist Biography Karol Garcia

Rooted in a life marked by both extreme hardship and abundance, my journey has taught
me that true peace cannot be bought or earned it must be discovered.
At fourteen, I ran away from my father’s home and found myself sleeping in abandoned
places homeless and searching for a place to belong. By twenty-four, I was gazing out of
penthouse windows in downtown Chicago, surrounded by luxury yet restless within. Each
extreme, desperation and abundance, taught me that material possessions and
resources alone can’t fill the void when peace is absent. Also, the lack of resources does not really matter if you have no purpose or discipline. 

  After losing nearly everything, I returned to my father and the most adorable stepmother a person could ever ask for. They offered me a
room in the church my father pastors.  A former migrant worker my father returned to the migrant
community to pastor. He has taught me so much of the beauty in following God's will.  My husband has been a great influence on my art also. He was able to show me
how truth, faith and an eternal perspective can root us when life’s circumstances shifts. I
have found profound purpose in my personal pain and woven into the stories and struggles of my family and the people I now call neighbors.

  When faced alone, hardship threatens to destroy; yet with God, it becomes a crucible,
refining our strength and calling us to transform. In every season of life, struggle and grace dance together, and it is in that tension that my creativity finds its deepest roots.

  My artistic influences span a broad spectrum from painters who reveal the poetry in
everyday moments to masters of light whose subtle brushwork brings the mundane to life.
As a self-taught artist, I owe much to my grandmother who gave me the idea that anyone
can become an artist. Sometimes you just need to know something is possible. She was an art teacher and a wonderful person. She was generous with her time and knowledge. My sister is also an artist which is a huge help in being able to see my work clearly. She has the heart of an artist and she makes life a special place when the world gets alittle to cray. Also I am grateful for the online community of artists who freely share their processes, tips, and inspirations. Their openness has continually pushed me to refine my technique and expand my creative vision.

  Oil paint is my medium of choice. It offers the exact hues my mind conceives and a
forgiving nature that encourages exploration. Its slow drying time transforms each canvas
into a laboratory of discovery, where mistakes become stepping stones toward mastery 
often witnessed only by my sleepy studio assistant, a handsome beagle.

  At the heart of my practice flows a divine loyalty to God. I envision creativity as a river I can draw from, a current between Creator and artist. Emotion is part of the process, but it
must be contained; unchecked feelings clouds purpose, whereas directed vision helps
carry the inner world onto the canvas.

Through art, I aim to bring beauty into a chaotic world and spark reflection on eternity.
Every piece intertwines my personal journey, faith, and community stories. As I embark on
this professional path, I look forward to sharing a vision rooted in struggle, hope, and the
transformative power of the grace of Jesus