Karen Mitchell was born and raised in the Tennessee Valley, at the foot of Lookout Moutain. This environment surrounded her with dramatic scenes or nature juxtaposed against backdrops of steel mills, workers and large farming communities. An incredible amount of history is entrenced in the soil. The American Civil War was founght just over one hundred years i the backyard she grew up on. Today the scars of this war are covered with the fragrant blossoms of pink dogwood and white magnolia blossoms.

The most important element that influences Mitchell's work whether painting or writing is her love for nature. The natually abtract qualities of light and shadow, the reflections that add movement to her paintings. Karen's deep devotion to our Mother Earth flows through every stroke of paint and every word written. This was the love that began when she was just a young girl growing up on a blue misted mountain.