MY BACKGROUND
MY BACKGROUND
MY BACKGROUND
MY BACKGROUND
MY BACKGROUND
Karen Jarvis
photography & painting
My Background
I have always been passionate about the arts. I love working with people, exploring ideas and creating things. I have worked with preschoolers, primary-aged children, teenagers and adults in a variety of capacities including writer, photographer, performer, director, artist, mother, caregiver, nanny, art teacher, dance teacher and TESOL tutor.
PHOTOGRAPHY
I first fell in love with photography when I discovered the dark room at high school. I have been studying the art and craft of photography for many years. My aim is to combine documentary-style photography with classical portraiture, to capture authentic moments.
I love the serendipity of street and travel photography - the fleeting, unexpected moments.
I try to have no specific agenda but I am drawn to form, colour, shadow, pattern, humour,
narrative and juxtaposition. Catching all those things in one shot is something I aspire to!
My favourite photographers include Harry Gruyaert, Ernst Haas, Diane Arbus, Helen Levitt, Vivian Maier, Saul Leiter, Elliot Erwitt, Fan Ho, Paul Strand, Trent Parke, Alex Webb, Paul Strand, Andre Kertesz, Josef Sudek and Man Ray.
PAINTING
I have been drawing, painting and creating collages for thirty years.
My work is figurative and influenced by an eclectic range of artists including Kay Donachie, Diebenkorn, Matisse, Maira Kalman, Bonnard, Vuillard, Bosch, Luc Tymans, Marlene Dumas, Richard Lewer and Gerhard Richter.
Groups Shows:
roinn: A group show, Northart, 2019
Pocket Edition: Small Works for Large Walls, Northart, 2019
PUBLISHING
Lost and Found and reFRAMED are artbooks published through Little Artbook Press (founded in 2024).
Photobook Memoirs are privately commissioned photobooks based on a one-on-one interview
and photoshoot conducted in people's homes. These bespoke coffee-table books are ideal for anyone leaving their family home to live in a retirement village. Photos are peppered with
quotes and anecdotes and laid out in a high-quality lay-flat photobook. I love doing these books!
WRITING
2016-2021
I wrote privately commissioned biographies and worked as a memoir mentor with Life Stories.
Click here to find out more.
Biographies:
To Cut A Long Story Short: The Life of Ian Devereux, Life Stories, 2017
Good Clean Fun, Life Stories, 2018
A Skylark Sings, Life Stories, 2019
Children's books:
Star Fairy’s Top Secret Guide to Fairyland,
Pan MacMillan, Australia, 2007
PERFORMER/DIRECTOR/COSTUME DESIGNER:
1999-2016
As co-founder and Creative Director of children’s theatre company StarFish Magic, I was able to combine my love of children and their imaginative worlds with writing, performing and creating shows. I also enjoyed making all the costumes and props. For 14 years, StarFish Magic performed an average of 200 shows per year at preschools, schools, festivals and public and private venues in New Zealand and Australia. Prior to Starfish Magic, I was a member of
The Aunties for three years, performing and writing shows, and making costumes and props.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Master of Creative Writing (Honours), AUT 2015
Graduate Diploma of Arts in English, Auckland University 2013
Diploma of Design in Visual Arts, Unitec 2010-2012
Bachelor of Arts in History, Otago University 1989-1991
Diploma of Clothes Design, Wellington Polytechnic 1987-1988
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