I relocated from Southern California where I taught elementary school and created art, to Florence, OR. Normal 0 false false false EN-US JA X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language:JA;} After writing 22 children’s books that I used to teach beginning reading, then taking a class, “Drawing On the Right Side of the Brain”, I emerged with an adult novel in my head. I began writing novels and poetry. As an award-winning artist in Florence Oregon, I appreciate being a growing fish in a small pond. My articles, feature stories and a column (The Moral of the Story) appear in the Siuslaw News, a local Florence newspaper..  A Name By any Other is my latest novel and Thornton House is my first published novel.  My eight novels are sold at the Backstreet Gallery,1421 BayStreet in Florence,Oregon, or http://www.a mazon.com/Karen-D-Nichols/e/B00DDXFRY0 You may also find myPocket poems, painting, collage and sculptures there, and on www.backstreetgallery.org. My art pieces are executed in a variety of media—photography, bas relief paper painting, acrylics, oils watercolors, pencil on canvas, and colored-pencil,  You'll find my illustrations in books and on book covers that I designed for other authors. I also create a line of greeting cards. My portraits are available on commission. I am member of the steering committee board that presents the annual Florence Festival of books. www.florencefestivalofbooks.org   A ray of sunshine, a drop of rain, a rainbow, wild horses, egrets, interesting buildings, unusual characters, or a child’s smile are but a few inspirations that motivate my artistry.   With His guidance, as an artist and writer I am inspired by the beauty around me to create visual images through my art and literary images through my writing, as I share my work, love, and assistance to those in need.

Graduate of University of California at Los Angeles with a BA in the Arts and a Teaching Credential. Multiple news articles and features, Awards in Celebrate ArtsCelebrate Arts, People's choice award at Siuslaw LIbrary and Backstreet Gallery.