Karon’s “spelt with an O?” As Owner, Karon Crutchley, I thought why not name my Art, Floral and Sewing business service Karon’s. My name’s spelling has always been an excellent conversation starter.
Karon’s studio is located just north of Arrowhead State Park and south of Eufaula, Oklahoma. Eufaula is a quaint tourist town on the largest lake in the world….kidding. The lake is BIG!
My design passion started in fourth grade while residing in a small rural town in Owasso, Oklahoma. Art & softball scholarships assisted with the financing of continued education at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, the home of Cherokee Nation.
Years wove may different path of design into the pattern of life. Those consisted of areas such as hand-sewn custom drapes; custom hand-painted children’s furniture; interior design of luxury bus liners; art instructor of private schools; floral designer for wedding coordinators would be some on the list.
I am a blessed wife, mother of four sons, grandmother of four that is surrounded by family and friends, and filled with peace from my Maker. This time has allowed me to pursue my true passion, “Painting!” The inspirations now flow easily and excitingly.
So what’s next? My hopes that by sharing the gift of artist talent that was “given” to me will create a friendship, will be a joy to you and to hear you say “I Love My New Art!”!!
Karon Crutchley
I am asked to list any awards. Gratefully, there are these:
Medium: Graphic Arts, Painting
You will find that my art incorporates the Cherokee Nation’s Native American Indians’s culture and traditions. Much of my art is related to animals, nature, and community. Seemingly blending timeless Traditional with Contemporary Fine Art.
Cherokee art is defined by continuous, flowing, serpentine designs rooted in ancient traditions. My art displays the common distinctive features of tribal art which many times are bright colors such as yellow, red, black and white. I lean toward the bright Jewell tones. Also you will observe precise lines that do not always connect which adds the contemporary flare. The mediums, materials used, that I work with are many. Acrylic paints, oil paints, watercolor paints and alcohol markers are the most common. Most of my work is on canvas, watercolor paper or marker paper. The artwork is usually always matted, sometimes double matted in a unique, preferably burl wood, frame.
I also use a not-so-common material called Scratchboard, a board with a layer of white clay covered in thin black ink. I then use a sharp tool and engrave, scratch, off the ink in a subject, normally an animal or bird which yields a highly detailed, precise and evenly textured artwork in black and white, sometimes colored ink is applied to the scratched areas.
Also one other technique that I use that is not-s0-commonly found is called “Reverse Painting”. This is done by painting directly onto a transparent surface, such as glass or plexiglass in reverse order. Instead of starting with the background and layering forward, I paint the foreground details and highlights first. The end result is the smoothest texture-look I can give in my artwork.
The themes and subjects of my artwork are normally, as mentioned before, of animals, nature and community. The selected subjects that are chosen are sacred, tell a story, teach history or pass wisdom from generation to generation. They likely will incorporate themes of ingenuity, perseverance or survival.
While you can purchase my artwork, when selected, at the Trail of Tears’s Art Shows or the Cherokee Homecoming Art Shows, you can also currently purchase my artwork located in the Cherokee Springs Plaza Gift Shop, 3377 Cherokee Springs Road, Tahlequah, OK 74464. You may also view a 100′ mural located on the west outside wall of the Community Center just west of main street in Eufaula, OK. I also provide independent Seasonal Window painting on businesses and the best way to reach me is via email, Karons.KC@gmail.com. Wado!
