Karess Knudtson resides with her family in the beautiful countryside along the Little Sioux River in Milford, IA.  Karess studied art and worked in the art department at Minnesota State University, Mankato.  She graduated from Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, Virginia, with a B.S. in Environmental Science and Virginia Tech with a Masters of Arts in Education. 

     "My family and I enjoy exploring our many acres of restored prairie, woodlands and the Little Sioux River as it winds through them. We spend as much time outside as we can during all of the seasons, enjoying the diversity and beauty of each one.      The creative process has been a very important part of me for as long as I can remember.  The art pieces that I am currently offering are all original and hand-worked.  Each begins with my photograph and evolves into a mixed media piece of art.  The photo is digitally and physically manipulated.  Some pieces are then created with an upcycled “canvas” which might include barn wood, metal remnants and other “historic” reused materials.   Encaustic painting with beeswax adds yet another dimension of beauty and protection.  As I began exploring the technique of encaustic painting…I felt like I was “home.”   Loving the outdoors and having been an environmental educator and naturalist, all of my earlier experiences come together in this art form.  It combines artistically the elements that I am passionate about....photography, nature, upcycling, and prairies.  I use my camera, computer and tactile media as others would use paints or pencils.

      There is beauty in every moment of everyday, but in our fast-paced lives it is too easy to let the beautiful moments and objects get away, and we quickly move on.  The intent of my photography and subsequent art is… to capture the beauty of everyday and recapture the beauty of materials from the past by manipulating them into a work of art...reflecting beauty in

                                      a place, a time, a life...."

For upcoming event, more information & pictures visit my website at, www.photographybykaress.com     

Karess Knudtson, photosbykaress@gmail.com, (712)330-7290, Milford, Iowa 51351,

 "Reclaiming Everyday Beauty"