Sooo I initially planned to post this Christmas letter, but then got focused on other things and it fell
to the wayside. As of the last week, I thought about posting a New Year post, then remembered
the Christmas letter I had already drafted--so I decided to post it even if it was a couple weeks
late. But for those of you who have wondered why I haven’t been posting as much (wow, has it
really been a full year since I posted??), what’s been going on in my life, what project(s) are next,
etc., this (as well as the next post I will make) should answer it. Thank you in advance for reading
this blogpost, I appreciate it more than you know!
to the wayside. As of the last week, I thought about posting a New Year post, then remembered
the Christmas letter I had already drafted--so I decided to post it even if it was a couple weeks
late. But for those of you who have wondered why I haven’t been posting as much (wow, has it
really been a full year since I posted??), what’s been going on in my life, what project(s) are next,
etc., this (as well as the next post I will make) should answer it. Thank you in advance for reading
this blogpost, I appreciate it more than you know!
Also, feel free to write in the comments what you feel you accomplished in 2017 I would love to hear! :)
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Hello family, friends, and supporters!
I am writing you during this time of year to express my profound gratitude for all of the support you
have given me. Working tirelessly on my own to advertise my own work only becomes worth it when
people are willing to listen and connect with what I do; it is because of YOU that I am able to pursue
my dreams of helping the world through my passions, and there are no words to adequately share my
gratitude for this. But I can at least share an update to show you how far I’ve come thus far thanks to
your support:
have given me. Working tirelessly on my own to advertise my own work only becomes worth it when
people are willing to listen and connect with what I do; it is because of YOU that I am able to pursue
my dreams of helping the world through my passions, and there are no words to adequately share my
gratitude for this. But I can at least share an update to show you how far I’ve come thus far thanks to
your support:
These last two years have proved to be a whirlwind of some intense and positive changes in my career
and personal life. In summer of 2016, I decided to quit my full-time job and take a giant leap of faith by
completely pursuing my own dreams. While this was one of the hardest things I have ever done in my
life as it has presented many challenges, it could not have been a better decision. I then spent the next
year working alone, holed up in my little Flagstaff, AZ apartment/studio, I had started a live Twitch
stream account and filmed myself live as I painted 4-5 days a week. During this time, I started making
animal portraits, which then evolved into the biggest project thus far in my career, my Animal Essence
Oracle Card Decks: Mammals.
and personal life. In summer of 2016, I decided to quit my full-time job and take a giant leap of faith by
completely pursuing my own dreams. While this was one of the hardest things I have ever done in my
life as it has presented many challenges, it could not have been a better decision. I then spent the next
year working alone, holed up in my little Flagstaff, AZ apartment/studio, I had started a live Twitch
stream account and filmed myself live as I painted 4-5 days a week. During this time, I started making
animal portraits, which then evolved into the biggest project thus far in my career, my Animal Essence
Oracle Card Decks: Mammals.
In addition to creating the animal pieces for the project, I spent many hours researching and writing
descriptions that best fit that of each animal. I felt that the animals themselves had, in a way, chosen
me to create this project, and the message they each wanted to share with the world came through
easily and effortlessly. If you want to read more about the turning point in which I started this deck,
you can read my blogpost here: https://karenkliethermes.blogspot.com/2017/01/artist-statement-
animal-essence-oracle.html
descriptions that best fit that of each animal. I felt that the animals themselves had, in a way, chosen
me to create this project, and the message they each wanted to share with the world came through
easily and effortlessly. If you want to read more about the turning point in which I started this deck,
you can read my blogpost here: https://karenkliethermes.blogspot.com/2017/01/artist-statement-
animal-essence-oracle.html
I took another leap of faith and spent half my savings to print and order 500 decks. It would be an
understatement to say that there were many stressful hurdles in getting this project birthed to life. But
with much gratitude, it ended up all working out, and I indeed had approached the day where they
arrived at the front door.
understatement to say that there were many stressful hurdles in getting this project birthed to life. But
with much gratitude, it ended up all working out, and I indeed had approached the day where they
arrived at the front door.
To be closer to my family and have more opportunities for my work, I made the decision to move from
Arizona back to Colorado. This has certainly panned out better than I could’ve ever imagined. Thanks
to a wonderful, talented artist connection who got me to be a vendor at Sedona Wolf Week 2017, I
began my new path of towards animal conservation. This event got me a vendor table at the Running
Wild Race (Denver), which got me a vendor table and live-drawing performance at Katie’s Night
(Denver), which got me a vendor table Rock of the Apes (Denver) this coming May, and so-forth. All of
these events are ones that bring awareness and financial support to rescuing/saving/protecting animal
species in need. Donating my artwork to these kinds of organizations is a very small price to pay in
comparison to the knowledge, connections, and sense of benevolent community that I have received
in return.
Arizona back to Colorado. This has certainly panned out better than I could’ve ever imagined. Thanks
to a wonderful, talented artist connection who got me to be a vendor at Sedona Wolf Week 2017, I
began my new path of towards animal conservation. This event got me a vendor table at the Running
Wild Race (Denver), which got me a vendor table and live-drawing performance at Katie’s Night
(Denver), which got me a vendor table Rock of the Apes (Denver) this coming May, and so-forth. All of
these events are ones that bring awareness and financial support to rescuing/saving/protecting animal
species in need. Donating my artwork to these kinds of organizations is a very small price to pay in
comparison to the knowledge, connections, and sense of benevolent community that I have received
in return.
Sedona Wolf Week 2017
Running Wild Race 2017
Katie's Night 2017
Body Mind Spirit Expo Fall 2017
This tremendous direction towards helping the animals has made me finally feel like my overwhelming
plethora of interests and passions has found its perfectly fitted glass slipper. It wasn’t until I was writing
my speech for the Body, Mind, Spirit Expo that I realized the foundation of my work isn’t just about the
animals; I now see that I am to help bring awareness regarding the importance of treating our planet
better, working as a tiny cog in the collective machine to bring healing to all life. If you're interested in
hearing this speech, feel free to watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbxFayMiwEU
plethora of interests and passions has found its perfectly fitted glass slipper. It wasn’t until I was writing
my speech for the Body, Mind, Spirit Expo that I realized the foundation of my work isn’t just about the
animals; I now see that I am to help bring awareness regarding the importance of treating our planet
better, working as a tiny cog in the collective machine to bring healing to all life. If you're interested in
hearing this speech, feel free to watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbxFayMiwEU
It was this speech that really set my train on the tracks and lit the fire within. I hope to continue to
inspire people with more speeches, especially surrounding our younger generations—as a collective,
we need to learn how to take better care of our planet, and teach our children this. I am also becoming
very impassioned about creating my own illustrated children’s books, and of course, continue to make
more card decks. I am currently working with the Plan B Foundation, a non-profit supporting North
American wolves, to illustrate a children’s book for them to use to educate children on the subject of
these serious matters. Additionally, I got my work cut out for me as I am currently doing the research
on birds for a bird deck! I have no idea when exactly this will be ready for purchase, but it may be
awhile--we’ll see. After the birds deck, I am intending to make a reptiles/insects deck, then an aquatic
creature deck.
If all of this wasn’t enough of a career high for me to be on, it was around this time that I inspire people with more speeches, especially surrounding our younger generations—as a collective,
we need to learn how to take better care of our planet, and teach our children this. I am also becoming
very impassioned about creating my own illustrated children’s books, and of course, continue to make
more card decks. I am currently working with the Plan B Foundation, a non-profit supporting North
American wolves, to illustrate a children’s book for them to use to educate children on the subject of
these serious matters. Additionally, I got my work cut out for me as I am currently doing the research
on birds for a bird deck! I have no idea when exactly this will be ready for purchase, but it may be
awhile--we’ll see. After the birds deck, I am intending to make a reptiles/insects deck, then an aquatic
creature deck.
Front Cover Ilustration for Plan B Foundation Non-profit Children's Book
From Plan B Foundation 2017 Newsletter
unintentionally made a huge achievement as a local artist—my card decks were accepted into
the Denver Art Museum gift shop. The most amazing part of this was that this opportunity came
to me; never would I have thought or dreamed for my decks to land one of the most prestigious
stores in the area. A lovely lady, who just happened to work at the Denver Art Museum, found, loved,
and purchased my deck. She then showed it to her boss the very next day, and he immediately
contacted me, asking if it could be part of their collection.
The best part of this accomplishment is that here I diverted my artist path away from the more
professional, art gallery direction (which I often found to be too pretentious for my own personal
tastes) and more into my own path, one that was grounded in my authentic, spiritual self. To think
that my heart-centered work technically got into the Denver Art Museum instead of the way that I
was trained all four years of my college education—and within two years of graduation!—completely
blows my mind. Not to mention that the statistic of art students that are simply still doing art two years
after graduation is a slim 10%...this was all validation that I am indeed on the right path.
professional, art gallery direction (which I often found to be too pretentious for my own personal
tastes) and more into my own path, one that was grounded in my authentic, spiritual self. To think
that my heart-centered work technically got into the Denver Art Museum instead of the way that I
was trained all four years of my college education—and within two years of graduation!—completely
blows my mind. Not to mention that the statistic of art students that are simply still doing art two years
after graduation is a slim 10%...this was all validation that I am indeed on the right path.
I started out being a full-time artist with a great wealth of determination. But if I am being honest, that
determination was also paired with an underlying sense of terror. I am so happy to say that in recent
months, I feel that I have finally started to learn to trust that I am always okay—financially, and
whichever way else. I am learning to trust in the Universe. As humans, we cannot predict which way
our worlds around us change, how those around us change, or how we ourselves change. But what
we can do is live in the moment, being the best humans we can be to ourselves and others in each of
these moments. We can learn to feel safe in that we are always growing, always moving, always
changing, always adapting.
determination was also paired with an underlying sense of terror. I am so happy to say that in recent
months, I feel that I have finally started to learn to trust that I am always okay—financially, and
whichever way else. I am learning to trust in the Universe. As humans, we cannot predict which way
our worlds around us change, how those around us change, or how we ourselves change. But what
we can do is live in the moment, being the best humans we can be to ourselves and others in each of
these moments. We can learn to feel safe in that we are always growing, always moving, always
changing, always adapting.
In addition to your support of me and my work, I so appreciate you taking the time to read this letter. I
hope that sharing my experiences can perhaps encourage you all to follow your passions and your
dreams (or validate it if you already are!). Because after all, one could use my experience as proof that
the Universe conspires with us to make our dreams come true; we are what we think, what we feel,
etc. I believe we have each been placed here on this learning platform called “Earth" to learn specific
lessons through experience, and we have been each given special gifts that make this challenging life
on a difficult planet all the more rewarding and beneficial to yourself and your surrounding community.
hope that sharing my experiences can perhaps encourage you all to follow your passions and your
dreams (or validate it if you already are!). Because after all, one could use my experience as proof that
the Universe conspires with us to make our dreams come true; we are what we think, what we feel,
etc. I believe we have each been placed here on this learning platform called “Earth" to learn specific
lessons through experience, and we have been each given special gifts that make this challenging life
on a difficult planet all the more rewarding and beneficial to yourself and your surrounding community.
I wish you all overflowing blessings on your own special paths; may we all choose to live genuinely
from our hearts, doing what fulfills us and encouraging those around us to do the same. I hope you all
have immensely beautiful holidays spent with those that you love, and feeling fulfilled with overflowing
with love, appreciation, respect, joy, and peace.
from our hearts, doing what fulfills us and encouraging those around us to do the same. I hope you all
have immensely beautiful holidays spent with those that you love, and feeling fulfilled with overflowing
with love, appreciation, respect, joy, and peace.
With Overwhelming Gratitude, Love, and Light,
~Karen Kliethermes
Website: https://www.karenkliethermes.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KarenKliethermesEssenceoftheSoul/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karenkliethermesart/
To purchase an oracle deck: https://www.karenkliethermes.com/oracle-deck
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