Karen Noles

Karen Noles biography:

Karen Noles lives and works in Polson, Montana, between Missoula and Kalispell, on the edge of the Flathead Indian Reservation. Surrounded by wide-open land and roaming wildlife, she draws deep inspiration from the natural beauty and cultural richness of the region. While the area feeds her soul, she acknowledges it as both a wonderful place to live and a challenging place to make a living as an artist.

Noles is best known for her paintings of Native American figures, particularly portraits of children. Her subject matter reflects both her close relationships with members of the Flathead Reservation and her admiration for the honesty, warmth, and spontaneous responses to life found in children. She strives to create work that is peaceful and serene in tone—art that elevates the human spirit and invites quiet reflection.

Born in the small town of Merna, Nebraska, Noles’ artistic talent was evident early on and encouraged by her kindergarten teacher and her parents. Although her family had limited financial resources and could not afford formal art lessons, her determination never wavered. While still in high school, she completed a correspondence art course through the University of Nebraska. Later, her parents supported her enrollment in a commercial art program in Omaha, a turning point that led to her first professional opportunity.

At the age of nineteen, Karen was hired by a representative from Hallmark Cards in Kansas City. After marrying, she moved to California, where she worked in San Diego for Buzza-Gibson, another greeting card company. Eventually, she and her husband relocated to the Pacific Northwest with their four-month-old daughter. For the next ten years, she worked as a freelance illustrator for Roth International, a California-based company.

The couple later built a log home with a large studio, allowing Noles to devote herself fully to her fine art practice. She works approximately eight hours a day, focusing primarily on her personal artistic vision.

Noles begins her paintings by photographing her subjects on location, then developing drawings on canvas using an umber wash. Her work is highly detailed, with a focus on achieving a luminous, translucent quality that brings her subjects’ emotions and personalities to life. She has a particular interest in traditional Native attire and spends countless hours carefully rendering beadwork, clothing, and adornments, honoring both the individual and their cultural heritage.

Available painting:

“Salish Rose”
Karen Noles
pastel   12″ x 9″
$2,500

See additional information about “Salish Rose”.

Do you have a Karen Noles painting you would like to sell? We have clients interested in his paintings to their collections. Call us 602-730-2451 or email us sales@artzline.com.

Sold painting:

“Shy Little Sioux”
Karen Noles
oil   12″ x 9″
SOLD