I’ve been painting and daydreaming for as long as I can remember.  I earned my BFA from Alfred University’s School of Art & Design, majoring in photography . I went in as a painting major but a professor urged me to try photography.  I did fall in love and while photography has been a fulfilling career since graduating,  painting has always been my true passion.

My work exists somewhere between expressionism and surrealism, viewed through a contemporary lens. I’m drawn to the emotional intensity and stylized forms found in artists like Modigliani, Egon Schiele, and Margaret Keane—whose influence might be felt in my aesthetic.

I primarily paint expressive portraits of women—long-necked figures with quiet, enigmatic expressions. Each one suggests a story that unfolds through the viewer’s imagination. Some feel melancholy, slightly off-balance, or a little strange. They do feel like reflections of myself during the moment they were created. What connects them all is strength. These women carry emotion, resilience, and the quiet power that comes from living, healing, and continuing forward.

Alongside my figurative work, I also create abstract paintings. These pieces emerge when I want to paint more intuitively—focusing on color, movement, and composition rather than detail. They’re inspired by how I experience the world around me and often reflect whatever mood I’m in at the time.

Ultimately, my goal is simple: to create art that sparks thought, emotion, and joy through color, imagination, and storytelling.

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Originals and Fine Art Prints are available on Etsy!  Visit my shop! : https://www.etsy.com/shop/KPraastFineArt

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Visit me on Instagram @ https://www.instagram.com/kpraastfineart