Kara Lee Merrell is a native Oklahoma artist living in the capitol city all of her life. An expert in the field of textile art and originative furniture design, Kara Lee embarked upon her dream of becoming a student of fine arts in the early nineties. "After first experimenting with charcoals, then pastels and oils, I ventured into creative realms I never dreamed possible," Merrell said.

Kara Lee places herself in the position of perpetual student with an attitude of staying open to learning and change. She strongly believes that change is necessary in order for one's innate potential as an artist to unfold.

Merrell considers herself not only a painter in the realist tradition inspired by the Old Masters and American Impressionists but also a contemporary colorist. She loves painting in "chiaroscuro", the style of the Old Masters using the form of light and dark to catch the viewer's eye. As a contemporary colorist she emphasizes the beautiful hues in each of her works, clearly defining her talents with other artists in that category such as Kevin Macpherson and Gay Faulkenberry.

Working mainly in oils, Kara Lee affirms her love of beauty in the very pleasure of painting, hoping that the same feelings will be passed on to each onlooker. Whether still life, floral or landscape, Merrell enjoys looking ahead to the next challenge with fresh ideas, methods, techniques, and subject matter.

She speaks of a painting as it develops as having its own dynamics. What a joy and reward it is to see my intentions emerge on canvas! For me, a feeling of success can be defined as one moment when a stroke or color is just right," says the artist with emotion.

Some of Kara Lee's most influential teachers have been David Leffel, Sherrie McGraw, Gay Faulkenbeny, John Encinias, Louis Escobedo, Ron Rencher and local painters Dennis B. Parker and Kathryn Walker Richardson.

Kara Lee Merrell's oils on canvas have been shown at galleries in New Mexico, Texas, and N. Carolina Her works are currently showcased at The Howell Gallery, 6432 N. Western, Oklahoma City, OK, 73116 (www.howellgallery.com), Dunton Gallery, 18S. Evergreen, Arlington Heights, IL 60005 (www.duntongallery.com), and The Sandstone Gallery, 108 S. First, Guthrie, OK 73044.