Karen Kurka Jensen is an accomplished sumi-e artist, portraying her deep connection to nature through mystical, inspirational landscapes and abstract images. Jensen grew up in Minnesota, where she was sidetracked from a library career following a traumatic car accident. She went in search of alternative healing after her doctors could not relieve her chronic pain. She met a traditional Chinese healer who not only treated her successfully but introduced her to his Chinese culture and heritage. This "accident" led her down a path of discovery, falling in love with the art of sumi-e. Karen met and began studying with American sumi-e masters, Susan Frame and Susan Christie shortly after they returned from formal studies overseas in China and Japan, where their teachers were Zhuo He-Jun and Lu Yen Shao. Jensen studied with her teachers for over 10 years. They continue to be her mentors, teachers and close friends. Jensen has taken workshops with Cheng Khee Chee and Lok Tok and has continued her own research studies with renowned sumie artists such as Diana Kan and Gao Xingjian.

Early in her career, she developed her own sumi-e-inspired style of abstract expressionism; her dreamy landscapes and images take the viewer on a journey into their own souls. Immediate and lovely, Jensen's desire is to inspire. She conveys her poetic style through the use of natural and traditional materials,  creating fantastical images on delicate rice paper with water, ink and color.

Jensen now resides in North Liberty, IA, after establishing a successful career in galleries and workshops across the West and Midwest. She continues to exhibit locally and nationally. Her work is in public and private collections across the country.

As an artist who specializes in sumi-e art, I am deeply passionate about exploring the relationship between art and spirituality. My artwork is a reflection of my innermost thoughts, feelings, and beliefs and is intended to serve as a vehicle for self-expression, meditation, and contemplation.

My journey as an artist began at a young age when I discovered my love for drawing and painting. Over the years, my passion for art grew, and I began to explore various mediums and styles. However, it wasn't until I discovered sumi-e that I truly found my voice.

Sumi-e, also known as ink painting, is a traditional art form that is deeply rooted in heart and vision. The practice of sumi-e involves using a brush and ink to create bold, expressive strokes that capture the essence of a subject, rather than its physical details. For me, sumi-e is the perfect medium for expressing my spiritual beliefs and exploring my innermost thoughts and emotions.

From ancient times, the people of China have long held that their magnificent culture was a gift from the heavens. Art was primarily a means to explore the connection between humankind and God. Artists cultivated virtue in themselves because they felt that to create art worthy of the divine, there must first be inner beauty. Part of that practice for me is in waiting. It is dwelling, quiet and patient. It is prayer. Prayer as the absence of wanting and asking. Prayer as emptiness, prayer as silence, prayer as stillness.    

In my expressive style of sumi-e art, I strive to capture the spiritual essence of my subject, not simply the physical form. In fact, much of what I currently paint is entirely abstract, revealing the mysteries of the soul. My goal is to create a piece of art that speaks to the viewer on a deeper level.

To achieve this goal, I approach each piece of artwork with a clear and focused mind. Before beginning to paint, I take time to meditate and reflect on the subject, allowing my thoughts and emotions to guide my brush strokes. I also pay close attention to the flow and movement of the ink, using it to create dynamic and expressive strokes that capture the energy and spirit of what I'm about to create.

Ultimately, my art is a reflection of my own personal journey. Through my artwork, I seek to explore and express my own thoughts, feelings, and beliefs, while also providing a source of inspiration and reflection for others. Whether viewed as a simple piece of art, or as a vehicle for meditation and contemplation, I hope that my work serves to uplift and inspire all who encounter it.