Karen Hewitt Hagan

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Karen Hewitt Hagan | Charleston, South Carolina
 
​Karen Hewitt Hagan, is living the quintessential life of an accomplished artist. Florence, South Carolina native has taught plein air painting in Charleston, Italy, the Bahamas, and France. Her works are collected nationally as well and are in the permanent collection of fine resorts like The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island. Though she’s traveled the world, lived aboard a boat (aptly named Plein Air) for over 8 years, she says Charleston continues to be her calm, stable source of inspiration.
 
  “If I were marooned in just one place on earth, I’d want it to be Charleston. It’s nirvana here…funky, very close-knit among the artists. We all collaborate a lot, share models, and paint together. That’s inspiring in itself, but to get to do that in a city that is filled with such stunning light and beauty is way beyond what anyone could hope for.”
 
You might be surprised to learn that Hagan’s first memory of painting was when the artist was 32 years old—a relatively late age to find and pursue your passion. She describes her paintings as “painterly, loose, and juicy. They’re colorful, and hopefully, full of light. I guess most people call me an impressionistic landscape painter, but I resist putting titles on myself because I always want to explore. While I hold true to traditional drawing and compositional methods, I want to experiment and push the boundaries of painting.”
 
Hagan is also a breast cancer survivor. That ordeal drastically changed her perspective on her life and work. “I’ve had a whole lot of challenges and changes in the last few years; moving back to dry land, becoming single, and going through breast cancer.  I’ve found that my paintings always follow my heart, and what’s happening with my emotions usually flows through my brush.  I’m in a really good place now and feel very grateful to be healthy, happy, and painting every day!” says Hagan.