When Eileen’s 6th grade class was putting on “Fiddler on the Roof” for the annual play, she was asked to paint a Marc Chagall painting as the backdrop. This would be a monstrous task for a 12-year old to undertake, especially one who had never painted on a canvas before. But the painting had a mystical quality that attracted the young budding artist. Perhaps there was a subconscious tie to the painting, “I and the Village” and to Eileen’s own family upbringing in the village of Diyabekir. Perhaps it was the good feeling, the good thoughts that came to Eileen’s mind when she looked at the painting. Or perhaps it was seeing in the shapes and colors of that painting how things came full circle, how we are all part of one consciousness.

On opening night of the play, as the spotlight hit Eileen’s backdrop, the stage came to life with music, costumes, and actors; most importantly, the light on the backdrop gave life to an artist. To this day, that light nurtures the ever growing branches of the art of Eileen Karakashian.
Karakashian came to this country at the age of eight, following her parents’ wish to give a little girl full of dreams all the opportunities available. Karakashian followed her heart’s passion which led her to art school in NYC. Graduating with a BFA from the School of Visual Arts, she became an art director in advertising for close to a decade. Creating national campaigns for clients like Procter and Gamble, Mercedes Benz, Ernst & Young and Capital One, did not satisfy her as an artist so she left the corporate world behind and came back into the spotlight of painting.

Using oils and acrylics, Karakashian today creates paintings that range from contemporary to abstract and surrealist. She has always been intrigued with the combination of color and composition and it shows as an integral part of her art. In her work, wine glasses and grape bunches are bordered by blazing yellows and oranges, highlighting their natural beauty. Karakashian delights in the interplay of colors, shapes, and textures to manifest the richness of the wine culture.

Karakashian currently lives in NJ with her husband and daughter.