About the Artist

Karen L. Bettilyon

In 2004, Karen finally had the time to again paint after working full time for 37 years in property management and development.  She was raised on a ranch in Wyoming and moved to Utah as a pre-teen.  Wide-open spaces, canyons, old barns, cacti, old vehicles, and interesting faces have always inspired her.  Watercolor allows for the expression of uniqueness that no other medium offers.  She awaits that "aha" moment when her art comes together and it is a creation that gives her a sense of accomplishment.

Karen attended the University of Utah with business as a major and art as a minor.  She has taken many workshops and classes from noted national artists.  Karen paints in watercolor, oils, pastels, and acrylics, but watercolor is her love.  Serving on the board of the Dixie Watercolor Society, she also was on the founding committee in 2016 for Gallery 35, 35 N. Main Street, St. George, Utah, wherein she exhibits her work, assists with the installation of new works on a quarterly basis, and volunteers her time to serve in the Gallery greeting and answering questions from patrons.  She has been the Featured Artist several times at the Gallery and sometimes will instruct a class.  She is a member of the Southern Utah Art Guild and has exhibited paintings at the Red Cliff Gallery. Karen is a Signature Member of the Dixie Watercolor Society, and is also a member of the Utah Watercolor Society.

She was the illustrator of the children’s book “Maggie the Witch” by Douglas McNiel in 1975.  She has exhibited at the Cottonwood Country Club in Salt Lake City and participated several times in Art in the Afternoon there, Bloomington Country Club exhibit in St. George, exhibited at the St. George Art Museum, the Sears Art Museum Gallery on campus at Utah Tech University and has a painting that is in the permanent collection at the Museum.  Karen has received many awards from judges for her work.  She has donated many pieces of art for fundraising endeavors. Her motto for painting is “It takes brush time, a lot of brush time in order to improve in the watercolor medium.”