Karen Mangold’s artistic talent was apparent from an early age. She realized that she could draw anything she saw. In high school, an artistic aunt gave her a set of oil paints, and after a few lessons, Karen fell in love with it. After high school, she studied business and commercial art and made a career in graphic design and printing for the next 30 years.
Although she was married with two sons and working full time, the pull of fine art was very strong, so she made time for art workshops to study oil painting and sculpture. She was lucky enough to live close to the Kerrville home of the Cowboy Artists of America Museum in the 1990’s and took several workshops from the likes of Fritz White, Grant Speed, Mehl Lawson, Gary Carter, Bruce Greene and Loren Entz. During that time, she participated in several curated gallery and museum western art shows.
In 2018, she began to invest more time into her artistic practice with the goal of enjoying a career as a working artist. Her primary interest is animal portraiture and also enjoys painting animals within their native landscape.
Artist Statement
I was raised in Texas by my grandmother on my dad’s side. I fondly remember seeing old family photos of their ranch in west Texas. I could feel the adventure of her early life, and maybe that is why I love western art so much - it was literally rooted in my heart - and imagination!
I did not live the life of a cowgirl (although my best childhood memories were riding bareback on my Morgan pony all over the county). But when I started oil painting and sculpting, I was immediately drawn to western art - and my love of it only grows stronger as the years go by.
My painting style is realism with a splash of impressionism. I love the technique of transparent glazing because it helps to bring life to my paintings.
Karen Mangold CV
Born 1963 in Sugarland, Texas. Currently lives and works in Bandera, Texas
Select Shows & Exhibitions
2025 - Oil Painters of America, Western Regional Exhibition, Illume Gallery West, Philipsburg, Montana
2005 & 2025 - Phippen Western Art Show & Sale, Prescott, AZ
2018 - Museum of Western Art Annual Roundup Exhibition & Sale, Kerrville, TX
2005 - Mountain Oyster Club Western Art Show & Sale, Tucson, AZ
Professional Associations
Oil Painters of America, Associate Member 2024 - Present
Women Artists of the West, Associate Member 2018
Social media
Instagram: karenmangold_art