About Karen

Karen Durishin is a Northern Virginia–based abstract and mixed-media artist whose work explores movement, atmosphere, and composition through fluid acrylics and resin. Known for her sophisticated use of color and strong sense of design, she creates expressive abstract works that balance energy and spontaneity with intentional structure.

Self-taught, Karen has explored mixed-media techniques since 2014 and became a full-time artist in 2019. Her artwork has been exhibited in galleries throughout the Washington, DC metropolitan area and has received recognition in numerous juried exhibitions. Her work can also be found in public and private spaces across the region through Art in Public Places programs.

A defining aspect of Karen's artistic practice is her fascination with the intersection of science and creativity. Working with fluid acrylics requires an understanding of color, chemistry, density, and paint behavior, while still leaving room for intuition, experimentation, and discovery. She is particularly drawn to the balance between predictability and surprise, where technical knowledge and artistic instinct work together to create something unexpected.

While fluid acrylics and resin are her primary mediums, Karen's focus extends beyond technique. Her work is driven by a passion for composition, visual movement, negative space, and the emotional impact of color. Whether creating atmospheric abstracts, layered mixed-media pieces, or contemporary fluid works, her goal is to create paintings that invite viewers to pause, explore, and connect.

Karen is an active member of the League of Reston Artists, the Arlington Artists Alliance, and the DC Arts Center. She also served as the substantive fluid art expert judge on the Discovery+ television series Meet Your Maker.

In addition to her studio practice, Karen is passionate about education and helping artists develop their own creative voice. She is a co-founder of the Fluid Art Boutique, a consortium of artists that has presented workshops throughout the United States and internationally. Through Waterfall Acrylics, she teaches workshops and private lessons and shares her creative process with a global audience through her YouTube channel, which has attracted more than 116,000 subscribers.

Karen creates from her studio in Northern Virginia. Commissions, workshops, and private instruction are welcome.