MARY BALDASANO / Special to the PVT Karen Koop Browning takes pride in her work "Wolf Maiden." Advertisement

The Pahrump Arts Council (PAC) recently hosted the Native American art of Karen Koop Browning at the library. Browning's art is poetic in its content and earthy in its presentation.

She has been a member of the PAC for several years.

Browning's drawings are intriguing by virtue of the use of colored pencils to project emotion and movement. Rarely have the qualities of a still-life setting been better used in projecting human and animal coherence.

While many of her drawings and paintings have adult and animal content, she also captures the innocence of children in both serious and playful settings.

Drawing since childhood, Browning is a Las Vegas native who found the desert and its people to have qualities that had to be captured in both pencil and oil.

The beauty of their costumes during pow-wows, the movement of the people during dances and the fun of the children as part of the activities are part and parcel of her love for Native Americans. The fine detail of her work gives it truth and one immediately decides how to feel about the work.

"I've had no formal classes on my art, but have always loved to draw. I have always had the support of my husband, William, and all my family," she said.

"I am part Blackfoot and have traced my roots through my mother, but have had little luck with my father's side ... I dearly love the Native American culture and it is very close to my heart. My ability to capture their strength and pride on canvas is special to me."

She gains most of her inspiration from attending different events, the environment around her and photos. She paints not only on canvas but also on leather and feathers and does beadwork as well. Her art has been shown at Art and Sol, the Fall Festival, pow-wows and more. She also showed her art at the big western show in Death Valley earlier this month.

Browning said, "My art is for sale, but the price varies depending on the time it took me to complete it, as well as the difficulty. The time I put into a drawing depends on what I'm doing."

If interested in purchasing her work, call 775-751-2015.