Karen VanDam Michmerhuizen

Born in the lush, gently rolling farmlands of Western Michigan, Karen VanDam Michmerhuizen was early on aware of the constant inter-play of light and shadow caused by the clouds which continually form and drift ashore along the vast expanse of Lake Michigan. The vivid richness of Michigan’s four distinct seasons formed a lavish palette that delighted her senses and called her to brush and canvas. But it was only after raising four children and leaving a career as an academic secretary that she began devoting full time to her artistic endeavors. Today, she and her husband plan their travels to specific painting locations, and in-between she spends much time outdoors either in her spectacular garden or various close-to-home scenic locales, capturing the lights and colors she so admired as a child.