A self-taught artist, Kari Tirrell spent her formative years drawing people and animals in graphite, charcoal, and ink. She won her first award in an art contest at age 11. After many years of drawing, Kari changed direction and started painting abstracts in acrylic, selling her work to collectors around the globe. She eventually returned to realism, and soft pastel became her medium of choice. The immediacy and control she experiences with soft pastel enables her to achieve the high degree of realism she prefers.
Kari’s work has been juried into many regional, national, and international exhibitions, and has received numerous awards. She lives in Gig Harbor, Washington, and is a Signature member of the Pastel Society of America and the Northwest Pastel Society, and a member of the Pastel Society of the West Coast and the Peninsula Art League.
Juried Exhibitions & Awards
2011
Northwest Pastel Society’s 25th Annual International Exhibition (Past President’s Award)
Richeson 75 Inernational - Animals, Birds, and Wildlife Exhibit
Peninsula Art League’s 9th Annual Open Art Exhibit
39th Annual Open Juried Exhibition of the Pastel Society of America
The Artist’s Magazine’s 28th Annual Art Competition (Finalist)
“Pastels USA,” International Exhibition of the Pastel Society of the West Coast (Terry Ludwig Award)
Northwest Pastel Society Members’ Exhibition (Best of Show)
2010
Northwest Pastel Society’s 24th Annual International Exhibition (President’s Award)
Peninsula Art League’s 8th Annual Open Art Exhibit (First Place)
38th Annual Open Juried Exhibition of the Pastel Society of America
“Pastels USA,” International Exhibition of the Pastel Society of the West Coast (Colorfin LCC Award)
Northwest Pastel Society Members’ Exhibition (Second Place, miniatures category)
2009
Pastel 100, “The Pastel Journal” (Honorable Mention)
Peninsula Art League’s 7th Annual Open Art Exhibit (Best of Show)
Northwest Pastel Society 23rd Open International Exhibit
Professional Affiliations
Pastel Society of America, Signature Member
Northwest Pastel Society, Signature Member
Pastel Society of the West Coast
Peninsula Art League
Publications
The Artist's Magazine, December, 2011
Bucks County Courier Times/The Intelligencer, August 1, 2010, “Broad Sweep for a Young Gallery”
The Peninsula Gateway, July 14, 2010, “Artist Discovers True Colors”
Gig Harbor Life, May 21, 2010, “Peninsula Art League Show”
The Pastel Journal, April, 2010, “11th Annual Pastel 100 Competition”
The Peninsula Gateway, October 14, 2009, “Art Celebrated at Civic Center”
