I’m Karen Horwitz, and Art has always been an important part of my life. I learned at a young age, from parents and grandparents who engaged me in artistic projects of their own, that the love of art is something we pass on from one generation to the next.

As early as elementary school I began to have a sense of myself as a developing artistic individual. Wonderful art teachers and a private painting instructor during high school inspired me to major in Art in college. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in art education and spent most of my career as a K-12 Art Teacher and Administrator. I also worked independently as a graphic artist, developing skills in computer-based design that I continue to incorporate into my artistic expressions.

Upon retiring from education, I joined the “Bay Gals” Artists Group in southern New Jersey and became a member of Gallery 50 in Bridgeton, where I sometimes exhibit my work. With more time to explore my own creative endeavors, I returned to my favorite medium, watercolors. A love of flowers and floral arranging, also passed down to me by family members, inspired me to attempt custom watercolor paintings of bridal bouquets. This is an endeavor I am really enjoying, especially when I experience the reactions of brides as they see the painting for the first time! Recently I have also been devoting more time to photography as a member of the Photo Club in South Jersey.

My newest artistic focus is botanical illustration, a discipline that has quickly become a meaningful part of my creative practice. I joined the Philadelphia Society of Botanical Illustrators two years ago and recently exhibited my first watercolor piece, Nuphar advena (Aiton) / Yellow Pond Lily, in the Society’s “The Future is Botanical” exhibition at the 2025 Philadelphia Flower Show. This year, I am serving as co-chair for our 2026 “Rooted in Time” exhibit, where I will be showing two new works: Heliopsis helianthoides / Smooth Oxeye and Lobelia siphilitica / Blue Cardinal Flower. This journey continues to energize me as I deepen my understanding of the art and science behind capturing the morphology, color, form and function of plants with accuracy and intention.