Karin Krohne Kaufman

"The Messenger, " an Oil on Gesso Board signed by Karin Krohne Kaufman

2003

Karin Krohne Kaufman was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her serious interest in art began at the age of four, when she found herself drawing whenever she had the chance. Children’s book illustrations were of particular interest to Kaufman. She was drawn to vivid colors and how the subjects appeared animated. Through the 1970s, Kaufman independently studied and analyzed illustration and from there, developed her style, primarily working with pen and ink, eventually switching to drawing with graphite in the late 1970s. From 1980–85, Kaufman attended the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, to obtain a degree in nursing, while also taking two semesters of basic drawing and one semester of life drawing. During her years in college, she became familiar with psychologist Carl Jung’s work, specifically in the areas of archetypes and dream symbolism. Kaufman also studied world religions and took particular interest in Native American philosophy. These subjects greatly influence Kaufman’s art. They are reflected in the universal symbols that she uses in her drawings, and they indirectly communicate her reverence for the earth.