By Ann Nichols
Staff Writer
Karen Barton has been drawing people since she was 10 years old. As an adult, she says she finds beauty in people “no matter what age, nationality, color or situation.”
An exhibition of her figurative paintings and drawings is on display at Raymond James & Associates. “People From Around the World” illustrates her desire to capture the essence of the individuals who served as subjects for her realistic depictions.
Many of the images have come from her travels. After graduating with art degrees from Ball State University in Indiana, Barton accepted a teaching position in Australia. When it was time to return home to the United States, she traveled overland instead of flying so she could see people from various countries.