Hi, I’m Karen Barge — a picture book author, illustrator, and kid-at-heart who sees the world in color. I was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, and now live in sunny Southern California, where I spend my days creating playful, whimsical, and sometimes quirky art designed to make people happy, giggle and smile.

I’ve been a professional artist and illustrator for over 35 years, but my love of color began long before. As a kid, I wasn’t satisfied with a 24-pack of crayons — I had to have the biggest box in the store. Saturday morning cartoons like Scooby-Doo and The Pink Panther fueled my childhood dream of moving to California and becoming an animator. Pink Panther, especially, stole my heart — from stuffed animals to stickers to sketchbooks filled with doodles.

In college, I fell in love with the bold, expressive styles of Van Gogh, Roy Lichtenstein, and Peter Max. Their fearless use of color inspired me to pursue graphic design, and I soon found myself painting and selling Memphis Design-style artwork in Dallas galleries. Along the way, Ziggy, Garfield, and Calvin & Hobbes kept me laughing and reminding me not take life too seriously.

My first job in California was with the video game company GTE Imagitrek, where I learned from an incredible team of animators, character designers, and visual development artists. That experience shaped me into the illustrator I am today.

Now, I create vibrant, imaginative art through both traditional and digital techniques. Inspiration comes from my daily walks on the beach, hikes in the mountains, and afternoons at the San Diego Safari Park (where my husband and I occasionally share lunch with elephants!). I’m always asking myself: if these animals could talk, what would they say right now?

Over the years, my artwork has appeared on packaging, calendars, greeting cards, children’s books, kids’ meal boxes, and art prints. I’ve been fortunate to work with clients such as Verizon, Sonic, Chili’s, Del Taco, Dream Smart Academy, Shaka Coffee, and CH Products.

At the heart of it all, my mission is simple: to use color, humor, and imagination to bring a little more happiness into the world.