watercolor and gouache 
image size: 5x7 (13x15 framed) beautifully framed with museum glass
 
Ahlgren's aminal paintings magically capture the personalities of these creatures in her exquisite jewel-tones using watercolor and guache. Her deep love of Nature allows the viewer to befriend them and her unique poetic license with color allow the animals to be experienced in a whole new light. Karen’s says that her focus on animals represents her love, respect, and concern for them – especially in this day and age where many thousands are on the brink of extinction due to human activities, ignorance, and arrogance. The combination of portraying these wild beings in a vivid non-local palette and with tenderness allows the viewer to approach their soulfulness with greater ease.