About the Artist
Born in, and a long-time resident of Essex County, Massachusetts, Karen Collari Troake returned to her love of drawing over ten years ago after leaving a full-time legal career. Her drawings are detailed, realistic representations of animals, as well as magnified images of woodland landscapes in Essex County, using both graphite and colored pencil. She also paints landscapes in both watercolor and oil. Many of her subjects are drawn or painted from her own photographs. Karen has exhibited her art and photography in and around Essex County. A keen observer of nature, when she is not practicing her art, Karen is walking in the woods or at the shore, camera in hand, gaining inspiration for her next project.
Memberships:
Greater Haverhill Arts Association, Haverhill Massachusetts (Member)
New Hampshire Art Association, Portsmouth, NH (Member)
Newburyport Art Association, Newburyport, Massachusetts (Artist Member)
Rockport Art Association and Museum, Rockport, Massachusetts (Contributing Member)
Salmagundi Club, New York, New York (Nonresident Artist)
Upcoming and Recent Exhibits:
Recent Works by the Membership, "Plover with Seaweed", Salmagundi Club, Rockwell Gallery, 47 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY, September 1-25, 2026.
GHAA 2026 Summer Member Exhibit, Andover Memorial Hall, Andover MA.
Field Notes, Newburyport Art Association, 65 Water Street, Newburyport, MA.
RAA&M Contributing Members' Show 2026, Rockport Art Association & Museum, 12 Main Street, Rockport, MA.
Winter Small Works 2026, NAWA Online Exhibit (www.thenawa.org).
Teeny Tiny Holiday Show 2025, Threadneedle Gallery, Threadneedle Alley (off State St), Newburyport, MA.
Fall Painting, Sculpture, & Graphics Exhibition 2025, Salmagundi Club, 47 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY.
GHAA Summer/Fall 2025 Exhibit, Penacook Place, 150 Water Street, Haverhill, MA.
Topsfield Fair 2025, Professional Fine Arts, Drawing. "Penguin" received Third Place award.
GHAA Haverhill Art Festival 2025, Bradford Common.
RAA&M Contributing Members' Show 2025, Rockport Art Association & Museum, 12 Main Street, Rockport, MA.
NAA Spring Gift Shop 2025, Newburyport Art Association Gallery and Gift Shop, 65 Water Street, Newburyport, MA.
RAA&M National Juried Show 2024, Rockport Art Association & Museum, 12 Main Street, Rockport, MA.
The Drawing Show, Slow River Studio, 17 Main Street, Topsfield, MA.
flora+fauna, alchemy+art, 44 Main Street and 5 Market Street (Suite B5), Amesbury, MA.
GHAA 2024 Annual Open Art Exhibit, Buttonwood Museum, Haverhill, MA.
Animal Show, Alan Bull Studio, 18 Graf Road, Newburyport, MA.
Photographic Art with a Boxford Connection, The Center at 10 Elm, Boxford, MA.
Recent Awards and Recognitions:
Honorable Mention, "Sheep" in the juried exhibit "On Paper" at the New Hampshire Art Association, 2026. The judges commented: "The humble colored pencil on toned paper, gestural stroke and layers of linework give us a beautiful creature looking up, making eye contact. An image of seemingly touchable surface and trust."
Exhibiting Artist, "Seaweed" at Salmagundi Club (Rockwell Gallery), Fall Painting, Sculpture, & Graphics Exhibition, 2025.
Third Place Award (Professional Fine Arts), "Penguin" at the Topsfield Fair, 2025. The judges' commented: "Rendering is beautiful".
Exhibiting Artist, "Fungus" at the RAA&M National Juried Show, 2024.
Second Place Award (Professional), "Piggy" at the 2024 GHAA Annual Open Art Exhibit. The jurors commented: "Impossibly adorable. The refined and accomplished draftsmanship expresses the genuine sweetness and tenderness of the little pig."
