About Karen
Folk artist, traveler, and storyteller
Karen Dittman is a folk artist whose work is shaped by the places she has lived, the towns she has wandered, and the mountain life she calls home. From her studio in Brevard, North Carolina — nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains — she creates original paintings and handcrafted functional art pieces that carry the warmth of story, memory, and place.
Her paintings are whimsical, colorful scenes of village life, country schoolhouses, coastal towns, and landscapes that feel both familiar and imagined. They draw from the folk art tradition — simple in form, rich in feeling — and reflect Karen's belief that the best art comes from paying attention to the world around you.
Beyond the canvas, Karen paints on wood, ceramic, and tile — creating keeper boxes, bowls, lazy susans, and decorative pieces that bring folk art into everyday life. Her seasonal pieces are especially loved, adding handcrafted charm to holiday tables and gatherings.
When she's not painting, Karen can often be found exploring with her camera, traveling to the small towns and historic places that inspire her work, or watching the deer that wander through her mountain property. Her creative life is rooted in curiosity, warmth, and a deep appreciation for the stories that everyday places hold.
What Inspires the Work
Mountain Life
The Blue Ridge Mountains, the wildlife, the changing seasons — Karen's home in Brevard is a constant source of inspiration.
Travel & Discovery
Small towns, historic villages, and colorful streetscapes across the US and Europe find their way into Karen's paintings.
Story & Memory
Each piece carries a story — of a place visited, a season remembered, a tradition kept alive through handcrafted work.
Scenes from Karen's mountain home in Brevard, North Carolina
A creative life, rooted in family
Karen's art grows from the same soil as the rest of her life — family, home, the rhythm of the seasons, and the small moments that make a place feel like yours. Her work is an invitation to slow down, look closely, and appreciate the beauty in the familiar.