Karen Vance Artworks

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 with the late Joe Abbrescia, in Skokie, Illinois, Northern Illinois University, Denver Art Student’s League, and numerous studies with many of the finest living painters; Carolyn Anderson, Clyde Aspevig, Scott Christensen, Mark Daily, Quang Ho, David Leffel, Michael Lynch, William Reese, Richard Schmid, Burton Silverman, and Michael Workman, to name a few, brought her to her passion and profession. Vance’s art career includes 12 years as a graphic artist and the past 23 years creating fine art professionally. Karen’s paintings are in the permanent collections of The Buffalo Bill Historical Museum – Whitney Gallery, The University of Denver, Wells Fargo Bank of Denver, First Interstate Bank of Wyoming and Montana, Winter Park Resort, the Winter Park Arlberg Club, Devil’s Thumb Ranch Resort and in notable private collections including, fellow artists; Quang Ho, and Russell Chatham. Vance is a member of the National Arts Club, and California Art Club, a Signature Member of the National Academy of Professional Plein Air Painters, Emeritus Signature Member of Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters, and is a Master Signature Member of American Women Artists and Plein Air Painters of Colorado.