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Karen Vradenburg

@kayvray.com
117 followers 92 following 113 posts

This is not at all what I expected. Upstate NY artist, addicted to encaustic. Art. Nature. A Bit of Whimsy.

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Karen Vradenburg @kayvray.com · 07/10/2025
Another series framed in white. #mixedmedia #originalartworks #artforthehome #518artist #upstatenyartist
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Karen Vradenburg @kayvray.com · 04/10/2025
I’ve framed one series of mini mixed media paintings. #mixedmedia #originalartworks #artforthehome #518artist #upstatenyartist
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Karen Vradenburg @kayvray.com · 02/10/2025
I took a picture on a rainy day of a little bridge I crossed. This quote seemed appropriate. “We who have means and a voice must use them to help those who have neither.”
Wooden footbridge scattered with leaves and Pine needles With the quote: we who have means and a Voice must use them to help those who have neither.
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Karen Vradenburg @kayvray.com · 30/08/2025
Come see me tomorrow!
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Karen Vradenburg @kayvray.com · 15/08/2025
I usually experiment with different media during the hot summer months, but I’m really missing my #encaustic, so I set up a station in the garage, to avoid heating up my studio. #encausticpainting #waxart #encausticwax
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Karen Vradenburg @kayvray.com · 04/07/2025
Every American with a conscience is doing the same thing.
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Karen Vradenburg @kayvray.com · 02/06/2025
As individual fingers we can easily be broken, but all together we make a mighty fist. - Sitting Bull Encaustic mixed media #art #artshare #encaustic #encausticpainting #supportcreatives #encausticmixedmedia #originalartworks #518artist #upstatenyartist
Neutral collage in tans, browns and grays, with a bundle of twigs tied with a paper ribbon. Include a quote by Sitting Bull: “As individual fingers we can easily be broken we make a mighty fist.”
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Karen Vradenburg @kayvray.com · 22/05/2025
Cold and dreary here in the northeast. This weekend is supposed to be the start of summer. It feels more like March. So I made some little beach paintings to bring the feel of summer inside. 4x4” Encaustic and paper
Small square abstract encaustic paintings of ocean waves with brown sandpaper beaches.
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Karen Vradenburg @kayvray.com · 08/05/2025
We’ve had a lot of rain lately.
Reflection of branches in a mud puddle
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Karen Vradenburg @kayvray.com · 31/03/2025
I'm stuck. What better way to reflect that than by turning my Mighty Girls into stickers? Hoping to bring a bit of levity to a distinctly gloomy situation. And from now until April 15, everything in my shop is 25% off. kayvrayartstudio.etsy.com #stuck #stickers #mightygirls #encausticmixedmedia
Assorted stickers depicting encaustic mixed media paintings of folk art girl figures made from collage and string and ink and paint and encaustic medium
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Karen Vradenburg @kayvray.com · 21/03/2025
Happy Spring. ❄️
Snow-covered trees and railings overlooking a lake on the first day of Spring
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Karen Vradenburg @kayvray.com · 13/03/2025
I made myself a hand basket. l inherited dozens of cardboard berry baskets. I've used a few to store things but I've always wanted to put them to better use. I remembered that someone had posted "I was told there would be hand baskets." And suddenly I knew what to do with them. #tohellinahandbasket
Square paper-covered basket with handle. Yellow, decorated with orange flames. The proverbial hand basket.
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Karen Vradenburg @kayvray.com · 08/03/2025
Several years ago I was experimenting with different color palettes on a half dozen 5”x5” boards. At one point my daughter saw them and said, “That one looks like a uterus.” After many more steps, it turned into this, which I named “Rebirth.“ #encausticpainting #abstractpainting #originalartworks
Abstract enclastic landscape in blue, purple, and green with amber shellac accents
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Karen Vradenburg @kayvray.com · 05/03/2025
"Calliope" has been selected for inclusion in The James Library & Center for the Arts 6th Annual Spring Juried Show in Norwell, MA, March 21-April 27. #encaustic #encausticpainting #abstractpainting #upstatenyartist #originalartworks #518artist #exhibitions
Multicolored encaustic painting. Abstract seascape with reticulated white shellac.
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Karen Vradenburg @kayvray.com · 04/03/2025
Time for some whimsy. My Mighty Girls are my pride and joy, so I made them into #stickers!
A collection of stickers featuring encaustic mixed media/collage Mighty Girls.
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Karen Vradenburg @kayvray.com · 26/02/2025
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. 8 / 20 #BookSky #BookChallenge #20BookChallenge
Cover of the book We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
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Karen Vradenburg @kayvray.com · 25/02/2025
This is a tiny little study I did, experimenting with different colors and contrasting textures. I fell in love with it. Now in my studio, it brings a bit of peace whenever I look at it. #encaustic #encausticpainting  #abstractpainting #upstatenyartist  #originalartworks #contemporaryart #art
Square abstract encaustic painting in blue, turquoise, and white
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Karen Vradenburg @kayvray.com · 24/02/2025
“Delineated” has been selected for inclusion in H2O: The Water Show at ACE Gallery, Oceanside, CA. March 17-April 18. #encaustic #encausticpainting  #abstractpainting #upstatenyartist  #originalartworks  #518artist #exhibitions
Square encaustic painting in blues and greens with white accents, and alcohol ink sprays
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Karen Vradenburg @kayvray.com · 20/02/2025
"Planet Claire" is the first painting I ever sold at a gallery exhibition. I was so excited to see that red dot! #tbt #encausticpainting #supportcreatives #abstract #artforthehome #518artist #upstatenyartist
"Planet Claire"  is a captivating abstract landscape painting, featuring a harmonious blend of blue, purple, peach, and green  encaustic paint. Adorned with delicate touches of shellac. Clouds spill over the mountaintops, creating an ethereal, dreamlike atmosphere.
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Karen Vradenburg @kayvray.com · 18/02/2025
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. 7 / 20 #BookSky #BookChallenge #20BookChallenge
Cover of the book maybe you should talk to someone by Lori Gottlieb. Blue background, yellow tissue box with white tissues spilling out the top.
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Karen Vradenburg @kayvray.com · 17/02/2025
But Spring is on the way!
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Karen Vradenburg @kayvray.com · 17/02/2025
Another snowy day.
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Karen Vradenburg @kayvray.com · 17/02/2025
The Other Side of Summer 12”x12” Encaustic and shellac #februarty #art #artshare #encaustic #encausticpainting #waxart #encausticwax
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Karen Vradenburg @kayvray.com · 06/02/2025
An early shellac experiment. I had seen videos of shellac burns, but for this one I wanted something darker. So I scraped some black pan pastel into a little cup of shellac. I later discovered that powdered pigments are exactly the way to color shellac. Trust your instincts! #tbt #shellacburn #art
Small encaustic painting, shades of blue and green in the background with a yellow sun like circle in the middle. All with black reticulation.
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Karen Vradenburg @kayvray.com · 06/02/2025
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. 6 / 20 #BookSky #BookChallenge #20BookChallenge
Cover of In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
Tree line on low horizon
Overpowered by huge clouds
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Karen Vradenburg @kayvray.com · 05/02/2025
“Round and Round” Encaustic mixed media #encaustic #encausticpainting #waxart #abstractlandscape #encausticmixedmedia #originalartworks #artforthehome #518artist #upstatenyartist
Abstract encaustic mixed media landscape painting
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Karen Vradenburg @kayvray.com · 04/02/2025
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. 5 / 20 #BookSky #BookChallenge #20BookChallenge
Cover of the book Fox in Socks by Dr. Seuss. Shows a red cartoon fox wearing blue socks.
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Karen Vradenburg @kayvray.com · 02/02/2025
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. 4 / 20 #BookSky #BookChallenge #20BookChallenge
Cover of “Furiously Happy, A Funny Book About Horrible Things” by Jenny Lawson. Yellow background with a happy looking raccoon on it.
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Karen Vradenburg @kayvray.com · 01/02/2025
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. 4/20 #BookSky #BookChallenge #20BookChallenge
Cover of  Garth Stein’s
The Art of Racing in the Rain: A Novel.
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Karen Vradenburg @kayvray.com · 30/01/2025
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. 3/20 #BookSky #BookChallenge #20BookChallenge
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Karen Vradenburg @kayvray.com · 29/01/2025
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. 2/20 #BookSky #BookChallenge #20BookChallenge
Cover of “Holes” by Louis Sachar
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Karen Vradenburg @kayvray.com · 29/01/2025
“Azure Sea” Encaustic and shellac on cradled board 11”x14” (28x36 cm)
11x14 encaustic painting 
  Abstract seascape with azure blue water and shellac whitecaps. Dramatic white, blue, and gray sky.
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Karen Vradenburg @kayvray.com · 27/01/2025
Choose 20 books that have stayed with you or influenced you. One book per day for 20 days, in no particular order. No explanations, no reviews, just covers. 1/20 #BookSky #BookChallenge #20BookChallenge
Cover of the book When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill
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Karen Vradenburg @kayvray.com · 26/01/2025
This is Nixie. At first, I was rather disappointed in her. She didn't turn out the way I had expected, and some parts of her were just wild and out of control. But as I got to know her, and I looked deeper, I discovered some intriguing and delightful parts of her that I had overlooked at first. /1
11 x 14 encaustic painting. Blues and greens on a white background with black reticulated shellac and sprays of alcohol ink
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Karen Vradenburg @kayvray.com · 23/01/2025
“Purple Haze” 4x4” encaustic mixed media with metallic accents (which don’t photograph well) #encausticart
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Karen Vradenburg @kayvray.com · 23/01/2025
Good morning, Bluesky! It’s the first morning above 0°F in a very long time. Still very cold, but still very beautiful.
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Karen Vradenburg @kayvray.com · 21/01/2025
“Desert Rose” Encaustic mixed media #encaustic #smallbusiness #artistshop #supportartists
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Karen Vradenburg @kayvray.com · 17/01/2025
This was my very first encaustic painting. Well, the first one after I familiarized myself with the process. After this, I was addicted. #encausticpainting
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Karen Vradenburg @kayvray.com · 17/01/2025
Abstract encaustic mixed media. What do you see?
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