MaryBeth Karaus is a graduate of the DAAP program of the University of Cincinnati, but her artistic training began years before any formal study. Her mother was a passionate artist, and she was raised with an intrinsic appreciation and understanding of art. For the last 30 years she has been a dedicated Mom and Grandmother while pursuing her painting. Pushing the boundaries of traditional still life, she strives for originality and excellence in composition while still respecting the importance of classical painting. 

 

After concentrating for some time in the medium of watercolor, she began studying oil painting, beginning with a workshop with respected artist Dan Gerhartz in 2004. In 2006, she won the Top Award of Excellence from the juried exhibition of the Woman’s Art Club of Cincinnati. In 2012 she took an intensive study of classical drawing and painting with artist David Mueller.

 

A member of the Oil Painters of America since 2008, Karaus was awarded Signature member status in 2015. Among the numerous commendations she’s received from the OPA was the 2018 Dorothy Driehaus Mellin Fellowship for Midwestern Artists from The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, as well as the Members’ Choice Honorable Mention Award in the Associate & Signature Division at the 27th National Juried Exhibition of the OPA for the painting “Orange Romance.” Most recently, in 2024, Judge Sherrie McGraw awarded MaryBeth the Gold Medal in the Associate and Signature division for her painting “Center of Attention” at the OPA’s 33rd National Convention. Karaus also has been a Finalist in the Art Renewal Center’s International ARC Salon Competitions in 2017, 2018, 2020 and 2022.

 

Karaus is an active member of the Cincinnati Art Club. Founded in 1890, it is the second oldest continually operating art club in the country. In the 2021 Cincinnati Art Club’s Viewpoint Show, she was awarded First Place by judge John Michael Carter.

 

MaryBeth’s ongoing gratitude to the teachers along her journey is represented by her mission to pass on these gifts to a new generation of painters. As a rising figure in the historic Cincinnati art community, MaryBeth recognizes the importance of encouraging local artists. In Ohio, she has taught at the Woman’s Art Club of Cincinnati and the Cincinnati Art Club. On a national level, she has worked with OPA to share her insights on both the OPA blog and through Lunch & Learns. Beyond teaching, MaryBeth has been honored to serve as a judge for both local and national art shows.

 

In her floral still lifes, MaryBeth is fascinated by capturing the fleeting beauty that painting from life offers. In all her work, composition remains at the core of her aesthetic. She brings a dual approach to her paintings of a subject. First, using only her northlight window, she spends hours in observation of accurate values, edges and color. With this deep understanding of her subject matter as a result of this direct observation, she may spend entire days arranging and rearranging these objects and critically cropping her photos into many compositions that results in larger, more complicated reference.

 

She currently displays her work at Eisele Gallery in Cincinnati, Ohio and Wally Workman Gallery in Austin, Texas.

 

“A painting can be an oasis of peace and give nourishment to the soul in an otherwise tumultuous and chaotic world.”

                                                                                                                                                       – MaryBeth Karaus

 

·       2006 – Top Award of Excellence, Juried Exhibition of Woman’s Art Club of Cincinnati

·       2015 – Awarded Signature Status in the Oil Painters of America

·       2017 – Impressionist Honorable Mention in OPA National Exhibition for “Fragile Morning”

·       2017 – Finalist in Art Renewal Center’s Salon Competition

·       2017 – Demo Artist for OPA National Exhibition

·       2018 – Dorothy Driehaus Mellin Fellowship for Midwestern Artists for “Orange Romance” at OPA National Exhibition

·       2018 – Members’ Choice, OPA National Associate & Signature Division

·       2018 – Finalist in ARC Salon Competition

·       2019 – Third Place, Virtuoso of the OPA, for “Nature’s Blush”

·       2020 – Award of Excellence at the OPA Wet Paint Competition

·       2020 – Finalist in ARC Salon Competition

·       2021 – First Place in Cincinnati Art Club Viewpoint 53 Show

·       2022 – Finalist in ARC Salon Competition

·       2022 – Third Place Award in the Signature Division OPA Fall Online Showcase for “Harbor Springs Hollyhocks”

·       2024 – Gold Medal in Signature Division, OPA National Convention