Our demonstrator was Karen Nastuk. She demonstrated her watercolor technique.
The meeting was held in the Guild Hall, First Congregational Church (middle side door), Sanborn Street, Reading, Wednesday October 8, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.
We have some photographs of the event in case you could not make it there in person.
karen set up her watercolor easel on the stage.
This is her reference photo for the painting.
You can barely see the drawing in this photo.
Karen began putting in the sky.
The sky is about complete.
Karen took a break to show us how she draws hands.
Working on the figure on the left side.
Closeup of the progress so far.
Painting the shoes.
A closer view.
Now she is working on the figure on the right side.
Progress so far.
During the break, Karen held an informal
demonstration of how she does lettering.
Back to the painting, working on the foreground.
A closer view.
Continuing to paint the foliage.
The finished painting.
Karen Nastuk holds a BA in Fine Arts from Fairleigh Dickenson University. Soon after graduating, she began studying watercolor with David Millard. Later, she continued her studies with Margaret Laurie and Betty Lou Schlemm. Karen is able to draw just about anything from memory, a talent she attributes to her many years of keeping a journal with sketches. Her paintings regularly win awards at local shows.
Karen states, "I can put an idea into an easy-to-understand, visual form, whether it's a cartoon, a diagram, a series of illustrations, or a full-scale painted realistic vision." Karen uses many styles and subjects for her work - line drawings in pencil or pen, watercolor botanicals, buildings (both interior and exterior), and portraits of people and animals. She feels that watercolors are her best medium because they are liberating and natural. Karen is a popular teacher of drawing and painting and is on the faculty of the Essex Art Center.
For more information about Karen, visit her website. https://fineartists.boston/karen-nastuk/