Ebb & Flow Illustration is dedicated to providing quality fine art pieces at affordable prices. Each print is mounted on a one-of-a-kind beautiful handcrafted frame constructed from salvaged hardwood.

Kara Sparkman Bio

Drawing has been integral to Kara’s life. Growing up in Michigan without a television in her home, she was rarely without pencil, markers, paper, and a voracious need to express and transform the world around her. When she wasn’t swimming in Lake Michigan, knee-high in swamp mud, or lost on horseback in the woodland areas by her home, she was immersed in drawing. As a young adult she relocated to Oregon to make art and explore the wild areas of the Cascades. In the process she discovered a love for the Pacific Ocean and a passion for surfing.

Kara has integrated art into her professional work in the social service sector which included pregnancy options counseling, child bereavement support, and working with at-risk youth in both the juvenile justice system and alternative high school programs. Recently, she utilized art as a tool for self-discovery and transformation with adolescents in the back country of Costa Rica. Kara combined rites-of-passage wilderness expeditions with creative expression to facilitate change and positive growth for adolescents. She is committed to supporting others in their artistic expression and connection to the natural world. Kara uses art as a conduit for change; in the environment, the community, and on an intimate level for personal growth.

Kara loves being in the water; she is happiest on a longboard and at a point break. Through travel, experiencing cultures, and exploring pristine wilderness areas, Kara maintains a balance of work and play in her art and in her life.

Education

Masters in Art Therapy Counseling, Marylhurst University,  2007

Bachelors in Fine Art, Painting, Pacific Northwest College of Art, 2001