Palm Beach Gardens artist Caren Hackman has been painting since childhood. But it was literally a back-breaking ordeal that led her to her new artistic passion – inspirational yoga portraits.  In 2008, a back injury and unsuccessful surgery following that left Caren in pain. It sidelined her for two years during which she lived with not only pain, but anger over her diminished quality of life. In late 2010 she was introduced to yoga.  As she learned more about the physical aspects of yoga, it began a slow, personal evolution, a catharsis, leaving the anger behind, which allowed Caren to focus on the things in her life that she could enjoy. As the spiritual essence of the practice became clear, Caren was drawn to share that passion through her art.  The Rickie Report shares Caren’s remarkable journey and artwork.

Caren Hackman

www.yogapainter.com

Your Source For Yoga Artworks  And Gifts

“Ancient Oak Tree Pose” by Caren Hackman

In 2008, a back injury left Caren in pain. Unsuccessful surgery worsened the situation. It sidelined her for two years during which she lived with not only pain, but anger over her diminished quality of life. In late 2010 she was first introduced to yoga.  “Yoga saved my life,” she said, still with emotion. As she learned more about the physical aspects of yoga, it began a slow, personal evolution, a catharsis, leaving the anger behind, which allowed Caren to focus on “the things in my life that I could enjoy.” As the spiritual essence of the practice became clear, Caren was drawn to share that passion through her art.

“Shanti Lavender” Peace Scroll by Caren Hackman

She is now dedicating her creative time to yoga artwork and has a website, www.yogapainter.com to display and sell her work. “This series of paintings shows my great love and respect for the practice. I hope that viewers can feel that love and connection with the spiritual and physical aspects of yoga,” she said.  Her work is already getting noticed. Her yoga portrait, SG Child Pose, was accepted into an art competition/show at Art Gallery of Viera in Melbourne, FL. It was on display there for all of October 2016, receiving an award ribbon and cash prize.

“Child Pose” by Caren Hackman

Caren Hackman’s previous artwork has been eclectic. An expert watercolorist, she also works in mixed media, painting in acrylic or oil on canvas, and includes collage for added texture. As often as possible in her creative work, she portrays patterns in nature. A beautiful example is her recent yoga painting, Ancient Oak Tree. It incorporates the yoga tree pose with an ancient oak she saw at San Felasco State Park near Gainesville. “It was a magnificent tree with gnarled trunk, sprawling limbs, and giant roots.” The Ancient Oak Tree artwork is available on note cards, as well as wall hanging scrolls, from 13” X 19” to mural size.

“Namaste” Scroll,  by Caren Hackman

Her new online store features two series of work: Yoga Portraits and Yoga Expressions. The Yoga Portraits are traditional hand-painted original portraits on artist canvas. Caren, a graphic designer by trade, has also created Yoga Expressions. These are digital paintings created using an electronic tablet and stylus. The artwork is printed with high-quality archival inks on artist canvas. No two are the same and this process allows the paintings to be customized by including a Sanskrit word, person’s name, symbol, or a yoga studio logo.  The artwork on canvas hangs from supports at the top and bottom. “In an effort to free the artwork from the traditional constraints of frames and glass, I have developed a hanging system much like ancient Asian scrolls.”

 
Caren has been painting since childhood and doing graphic design professionally since college. Her college degree was in industrial design. “My dream had always been to be an artist, but I had a huge love of building things and tactile projects. Industrial design filled that need.” But that didn’t extinguish her original passion and she continued to paint throughout college and afterward. “I continue to paint and exhibit while running my graphic design business and creating illustrations for clients.” She is hoping to show more of her yoga work locally.
In South Florida, Caren is well-known for her tireless dedication to community projects. She has founded the GardensArt program and Artists of Palm Beach County. Caren illustrated the life of George Morikami for the Morikami Museum. Her task force and committee contributions include the Norton Museum of Art’s ArtServe, Armory Art Center, Boys and Girls Club Gators Galore, SunFest, Palm Beach State College Campus Art Gallery. Most recently she became a member of the board of directors of April is for Authors.

Caren Hackman

Caren has been awarded two Artist in Residence positions: in 2010, by Necedah National Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin, and in 2005, by the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site in West Branch, Iowa. Caren’s paintings have been exhibited in museums and galleries throughout Florida, including the Cornell Museum of Art and History, Delray Beach; The Visual Arts Center of Northwest Florida, Panama City; the Ritter Gallery, Boca Raton; the Arts Center, St. Petersburg; Barrier Island Group for the Arts, Sanibel Island; and the Global Gallery, Tampa. In addition her work has been shown at the Neville Public Museum, Green Bay, Wisconsin; the Orange County Center for Contemporary Art, Santa Ana, California; the Spirit Echoes Gallery, Austin, Texas; and University of Mobile, Mobile, Alabama. Her work is represented in numerous collections, including: University of Texas Health Science Center NE, Tyler, Texas; Roger Dean, Palm Beach, FL; Equitable Life, West Palm Beach, FL; Northwood University, West Palm Beach, FL; Lake Wales Medical Center, Lake Wales, FL; and A.H. Fisher Diamonds, Red Bank, NJ.

You can experience Caren Hackman’s yoga series at: www.yogapainter.com

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