Karen was born in Princeton Indiana in 1953and moved to Zeigler when she was five. She always considered Zeigler her home even though not born here. She graduated from Zeigler High School in 1971. She married Don Odum in 1977 from Marion (now deceased). After graduation Karen attended SIU, she moved to Paducah in 1983 and now lives in an old Kentucky home among the 100 year old trees in a house built in 1923. Her husband Keith Anderson built a new house on the property and now uses the old house as her studio. Karen wants to thank Mrs. Evelyn Patton and Mrs. Nancy Proctor for encouraging her to do her art when she was in school at Zeigler.
After graduating from SIU in 1975 began working at Rechtin Advertising in Herrin, IL & Paducah. Through agency contacts began a Freelance Art business throughout southern Illinois and western KY.
From 1990-1993 worked for the University of Kentucky doing Public Relations at Paducah Community College. During tenure at the college hosted a visit by President George H. Bush and the Republican Campaign, which was interesting since I am a very liberal Democrat. From 1993-2003 managed the advertising and marketing for Michelson Jewelers who had 12 stores in the 5 state region. Since 2003 have been a Freelance Artist working throughout the area creating logos, graphic designs, painting murals and commissioned art.
Served on the Board of Directors for the Paducah County United Way, Earth Day Chair for Western Kentucky, First woman to join the Paducah Jaycees, 18 years with the Paducah Summer Festival Riverfront Concert crew, and honored as an Outstanding Member for the Paducah Business & Professional Women.
Married in 1997 to Keith Anderson, a Master Plumber, and is a stepmother to 2 daughters Rachel & Ashley
Karen is the Featured Artist at Tribeca Gallery - Paducah, KY
In March 2009, Karen will the featured artist at the Tribeca Gallery. Her work on "Into the Land of Canyons & Arches" The shapes and colors of the Canyonlands of Southern Utah is the focus of Anderson's collection of acrylic canvases. Karen, and her husband Keith, have spent many years hiking and exploring the southwest near Moab, Utah. They have traveled to the National Parks of The Canyonlands, Arches, Mount Zion, and Bryce Canyon which are all a part of southern Utah. Karen's canvases and sketches have been inspired by all the photographs taken during their travels. "This land of the ancients is a truly spiritual place with amazing colors and shapes that can inspire any artist. I discovered an emotional and an artistic connection to the land that seems to changes every hour with the movement of the sun and shadows," stated Anderson, "It is a place I want to share with everyone and yet I also have the desire to keep it all to myself."
Originally from Zeigler, Illinois and a graduate of Southern Illinois University, Karen has lived and worked in Paducah for the last 25 years doing marketing, public relations, created logos and other graphic designs for many area businesses and organizations. Her artwork has been published is magazines and packaging designs that have been distributed throughout the area. The last showing of her artwork in downtown Paducah was in 1993. She has spent the last 4 years creating this collection.
