ELIZABETH HAUTAU KARP
Doorways
My paintings explore the deep kinship shared among humans through the lens of the natural world, focusing on the beauty of plants. Highlighting herbs and flowers native to the Southeastern region of North America, a place I have called home for the past thirty years.
My interest lies in emphasizing what unites us rather than what divides us, seeking familiarity through the universal presence of plants and flowers. For instance, the vervain plant is native to the Southeast but is found across the globe in various forms. Universally, vervain has been used medicinally for fevers, a testament to its shared significance across cultures. For those migrating to new regions, recognizing vervain in an unfamiliar landscape offers a comforting connection to home—a doorway connecting people and cultures, past to present.
The language of plants and their medicinal properties and cultural symbolism serve as a bridge to understanding one another. They remind us of our shared experiences and create a strong sense of unity across humankind.
Chaos in the Midnight Garden
Get Lost
24x48 Oil on wood panel
Yellow, Yellow, Yellow
9x12, Gouache on paper
Sprung
8x10, Gouache on paper
Garden's Love
9x16, Gouache on board
Grandparents
5x7, Gouache on paper
Sleep
9x12 Gouache on paper, SOLD
Paperwhites
9x12, Gouache on paper
Hello Beautiful
9x12, Gouache on wood panel
Winter Flowers
8x10, Gouache on paper
Daisy is Her Name
9x12 Gouache on paper, SOLD
Chaos in the Garden
9x12 Gouache on paper, SOLD
SUMMARY
Growing up on a flower farm in Northeast New Jersey, Elizabeth Hautau Karp’s paintings are an expression of gratitude and appreciation for her ancestors. Working in either gouache or oil paint, layers are built in varied colors, shapes, and textures to mimic an unattended garden or a field of wildflowers that magically grew without witness. The dark indigo background symbolizes dreamy summer nights and illuminated visions of nature brimming with magic, innocence, and imagination.