About Karen Habblitz

Karen Habblitz is an award-winning artist who resides in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. She specializes in detailed, representational paintings of people, places and animals. She holds a Ph.D. in Leadership for Higher Education, a Master of Fine Arts degree from Utah State University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Ringling College of Art & Design.

Karen worked professionally as an illustrator, designer and commercial artist for many years. Additionally, she taught college-level art, design and digital classes. Later, she went on to hold numerous academic leadership positions, which included Department Director, Dean and Campus President.

In 2017, Karen stepped away from academia in order to take care of her ailing mother. During this time, Karen was able to return to her first love of painting, and Habblitz Studios was born. 

Select Awards

San Dimas Festival of Western Arts – Bronze Award for Watercolor 

Wyoming Pioneer Memorial Museum – Purchase Award

National Cowboy Hall of Fame’s Stacey Scholarship

Old Capital Centennial Fine Arts Show (2nd Place)

Select Exhibitions

Allen Trust Company Exhibition, Portland OR

World Forestry Center, Juried Faculty Show, Portland OR

San Dimas Festival of Western Arts, San Dimas CA

Rocky Mountain National Watermedia Exhibition, Golden CO

Cheyenne Frontier Days Annual Western Spirit Art Show, Cheyenne WY 

Douglas Invitational Western Art Show and Sale, Douglas WY

The Scenic Southwest! A National Juried Competition, Page AZ

Western and Wildlife Invitational Art Show, Estes Park CO

Days of ’47 Western Heritage Invitational Art Show, Salt Lake City UT 

Bountiful/Davis Art Center Utah Centennial (Juried Show), Bountiful UT