Karl Mårtens was born in San Francisco 1956, and grew up in the vicinity of Drottningholm, outside of Stockholm. At the age of 16 he moved to Switzerland and from there to Canada, and eventually back to San Francisco. After 24 years away from Sweden he returned to Sweden at the age of 40.

Nature studies, with a special love for birds, has been Karl’s main interest since childhood. He has been drawing and painting birds as long as he can remember. As the years have gone by his style has changed from extremely detailed paintings to the present, freer style.

The background for Karl’s style has its roots in his deep interest for the forms of meditation found I Zen Buddhism. Getting to know one self through attention to thoughts and emotions, and to accept the fact that we will never be fully in control of our lives are some of the thoughts he has found important.

Karl paint his birds from memory, using watercolor and charcoal on hand-made paper.

– I look at a bird and a specific expression or posture, which particularly expresses the personality of the bird, sticks in my mind. Then I paint…