Karla Hambelton is a painter living in Portland, Oregon. Her work focuses on landscapes in the Pacific Northwest where she has lived and worked her entire life. The paintings explore seasonality, climate, and ambiance. She captures the spirit of a place as an animate being. Her work is greatly influenced by the history of human interaction on the landscape and this theme is fully rendered in her 2024 “Aerial” series. She predominantly works with watercolor on paper and occasionally integrates gouache, pen, and pastel.

Ms. Hambelton was born and raised in Eugene, Oregon. She is also an archaeologist with 20 years of professional experience in the industry. She received her BA in archaeology at the University of Montana, Missoula in 2007 were she also minored in studio art. She obtained an MA in archaeology at Portland State University in 2012. She has lived and worked in Portland, Oregon since 2009.