History, natural history and wildlife illustrator Karen Carr
Karen at the kick-off meeting for the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument project.
About Karen and Karen Carr Studio
Wildlife and natural history artist Karen Carr has displayed her artwork, in both traditional and electronic media, in publications, zoos, museums and parks across the United States, Japan and Europe. Her most recent works include major illustration projects and publications for the Smithsonian Institution, the Audubon Society, Random House, HarperCollins and others, and she has authored or illustrated more than a half-dozen recent books for young readers.
Born in Fort Worth, Texas, Karen is the daughter of an artist father and a scientist mother, and these two shared influences and careers have shaped Karen's life and work. While at The University of Texas at Austin, Karen studied natural sciences and physics in addition to her studies in art. While there, Karen received a prestigious Ford Foundation scholarship in recognition of her illustration and life-drawing skills. Karen completed her baccalaureate studies with a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts degree from North Texas State University. She subsequently took graduate courses in anatomy and business at The University of Texas in Dallas.
After Karen graduated, she apprenticed for several years under her father, artist and sculptor Bill Carr. In the years since, Karen has built an international client list that includes some of the most prominent research organizations, scientific publications and museums in the world, including The Audubon Institute; The Field Museum; The Smithsonian Institution; The Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology; the US Marine Corps National Museum, the US Army Infantry Museum; the US Army Museum; Southern Methodist University; Science, Scientific American, Focus and Nature magazines; The Dinosaur Society; and more. Her books and illustrations are published by HarperCollins Publishers, Random House, Barnes & Noble, Scholastic Press and others.
Karen and her family live in the mountains of southwestern New Mexico, where they enjoy horseback riding, camping, bird watching and other outdoor activities.
