Artist Spotlight

Karen Brungardt

One of Saddlebrook Fine Art Guild’s longest, and most active, members is Karen Brungardt. Karen has been a member of the Guild for 20 years, and during this time she has served as president, vice-president, secretary, and outreach chair. She currently teaches many watercolor classes and has been integral in organizing the Art Sampler events and the yearly Art Fair.  

Although Karen had never taken an art class until her senior year in high school, she graduated college with a degree in art – but with no real plan for what to do with her degree. She worked as an insurance adjuster, and then decided to go back to school to earn a Master’s Degree in education. While attending school, someone asked her what she really wanted to do with her life, and Karen, surprising herself, answered, “I want to be a doctor.” It was a lightbulb moment that led to Karen becoming a family practice physician, and eventually moving with her husband from Kansas City to Wyoming where she practiced for 15 years.  

While working “twenty-four/seven” as a small-town doctor, Karen was invited by a friend to take a watercolor class at the local community college. This, too, was an eye-opening moment, and Karen became re-engaged in art. As she continued to develop as an artist, she realized “every brush stroke counts for the next piece, and every painting is practice for the next one.” She advises other artists to “Keep your old work – it let’s you see the evolution of your work and how far you’ve come.”

In 2001, Karen retired from practice, and her husband stated that he “didn’t want to spend another winter in Wyoming.” He had found Saddlebrooke online and they had visited in the winter of 1997 and loved the area, so it became their chosen retirement destination. Since retiring, Karen has developed several interests. She plays Bridge weekly, works in the gift shop, reads, and enjoys going to movies. But her newest interest is her dog Max who she adopted in December. Some friends had been fostering him, and after going to dinner at their house, Karen unexpectedly took home a new family member. “We just fell in love with him.” 

Karen is also an author of science fiction and fantasy novels. Her artwork and books can be purchased at Absolutely Art, the Saddlebrooke gift shop, the Southern Arizona Watercolor Guild in Tucson and the yearly Art Fair.  Her watercolor classes, for both budding new artists and more the more experienced, are advertised on the Saddlebrooke Fine Art Guild website (saddlebrookefinearts.org), and samples of her work are on display outside of the Topaz room at MountainView

Photo by Philippe Halsman

Art Salon October 15, 2025

The Wacky World of Salvador Dali

Part 1

By Dona Ferry

I remember as a child seeing a painting by Salvador Dali. I asked my mother if clocks could melt? She explained to me that artists paint whatever they imagine. I told her that I did not like the painting or Dali. I am now quit impressed by his art and the symbolism in it.

Mark your calendars for October 15 and November19 for a two-part presentation on the life and art of Salvador Dali.

Suzy Syrauss and I will present and facilitate the Art Salon both months. Part 1 in October will focus on his life as an artist and his wife’s influence on both. Part 2 will be a discussion of his art, and the symbolism he incorporated into his art.

Salvador Dali was born on May 11, 1904, nine months after the death of his older brother also named Salvator Dali. His parents told him he was the reincarnation of his older brother. This would haunt and influence Dali for the rest of his life. He made a point of putting himself out into the world as an excentric person and a surrealistic artist. He certainly got noticed. Dali was at once an artist and a work of art himself.

All Art Salon gatherings take place in the Topaz art room at HOA 2 Art center. The Salon meets every 3rd Wednesday September through May from 10:30 until Noon. Hope to see you there!