Karen Sloan Beitzel

My Will 

I am primarily an acrylic painter and call myself a realistic impressionist. 

I combine various techniques from thin glazes to thick molding pastes with brushes, spatulas, knives and my hands to express what I see in photos myself, my son, or his friends have shared with me. We all share a love of the outdoors and both the excitement & the solace it brings. 

I had not painted in over 30 years, but the canvas called to me when I unexpectedly lost my son, William, just after his 21st birthday. William died from brain herniation due to Intracranial Ewing Sarcoma. The neurologist treating him, along with several Emergency doctors during several visits, told him he was suffering from migraines. A Sarcoma is a rare type of malignant tumour. One enlarged mass grew to be 11.5 cm x 7 cm, larger than the average lemon in the grocery store. Another grew inside of that one to be 3.5 x 3 cm. I can only imagine the pain he endured compared to the heartbreak I experience waking every morning. A fatality inquiry has been called in Alberta. 

Will loved a good story. Both hearing them and telling them.  I started reading to Will from the moment I knew I was pregnant.   

Will knew a lot about a lot of things. Each of these paintings tells a story of his life. Journaling in paint. 

I am a Bereaved Mother. 

As long as people see me and my art, they see My Will. 

~Mentor: Lia ter Heide, CAAP Instructor

Karen Sloan Beitzel is an Alberta-based acrylic & pastel artist whose work expresses the memories she shares with her late son, William. Karen explored drawing & oil painting for many years but ultimately pursued music, graduating from the University of Alberta with a B.A. in Music & English.

After William passed away at 21, Karen turned to the canvas as a way to express her grief. She attended local master classes and, one sleepless night, discovered an online art community through the University of Saskatchewan. Studying via Zoom allowed her to learn new mediums and connect with other artists, offering a comforting light during a dark time. Karen and William spent years attending festivals and galleries together, sharing a deep love for many art mediums. Today, she remains deeply drawn to every gallery, museum, and exhibit she passes.

This is Karen's first art exhibit outside of her parents' living room. But she has already entered a portrait exhibit in Calgary and looks forward to honoring William’s life and memory through her continued artistic journey, while staying connected with the creative community she has found along the way.