Art

The Art of Life

The Art of Life is a new collaboration, founded in the spring of 2025, blending marketing and communications professional and art-lover Karen Amster-Young, with makeup artist, Abby Lauren Makeup. The focus is to support emerging artists, especially inner-city talent and students who are working hard for increased visibility as they bring their work to life. The two have launched this initiative to celebrate important moments and the personal expression of creativity and commentary on the world we live in. Topics will range from simply capturing moments in time to more intense expressions of life in today’s world.

The Why

As a published writer, Karen has covered the art world among many other topics, with a focus on the Hamptons on the east end of Long Island and working with publications such as Hamptons magazine, James Lane Post and Dan’s Papers. 

Her work has also appeared in the New York Times and other media outlets. Over the last few years, Karen’s love of art has only grown. She is a practicing amateur artist herself and likes to collect works from up-and-coming artists, as well as interview artists for various publications.  

Abby Lauren is a talented makeup artist and business owner, who recently opened a studio in the UWS. Her work has been featured in Vogue Weddings, W Magazine, and Good Morning America, to name a few. The two have known each other for a long time. Last year, Abby noticed one of Karen’s paintings,  “Daughters”, at her apartment while doing Karen’s makeup. Abby was drawn to it because of her work with many mothers and daughters in her studio. This sparked the idea for the Art of Life partnership and commitment to supporting the arts overall and emerging artists. They both have a shared love of art and community. Karen’s painting will serve as the symbolic kick-off for this initiative.

The Mission

Karen and Abby aim to display a rotating series of art by emerging artists in Abby’s unique studio space. The hand-picked Artist Selection Committee includes incredible, successful artists from New York and beyond who will be reviewing artist submissions. Karen’s Instagram feed continues to highlight the committee members. Stay tuned for submission guidelines, news and future event details.

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A Glance at Why I Paint & Who I Am

Acrylic and Oil on Canvas: mixed media, vintage paper, graphics, and found items. Add some spray paint and charcoal and other stuff and that’s what I do.

Writing is a big part of my life both personally and professionally. However, after the onset of the pandemic it was difficult to put even two sentences together. I was losing my mom to dementia and, now in hindsight, losing a lot more.

I was, like many, mad, and worried. We all lived in disbelief and, often, watching the news, seeking any information that would guide us and comfort us during this unreal time. Nationwide protests, societal upheaval and frustration took over as we simultaneously all navigated a new work where we could not be with friends or family.

So, I decided to dust off unopened art supplies from previous years and start painting.

The Result

Canvases with images and words, some filled with anger, some with hope and almost all mixed with social and political commentary while also incorporating the things I loved and wanted as I also screamed at the world.

Some things were there from the very beginning, including my daughter’s name, ALISON written in the corner of a canvas or anywhere on the piece. I also always, in some way, used images culled from old magazines, advertisements, postcards, photographs and other items from flea markets and vintage shops.

Suddenly, these items, these valued collections found a greater purpose and are incorporated in all my work. I love the juxtaposition of older images, and contemporary themes that are relevant, thought-provoking and I believe are important to share, all while sharing personal feelings and changes in my life that would hopefully resonate with others.

Painting gave me an outlet to express the feelings that I felt and hoped would “talk” to others – both at this time and in the future.

Today, now four years later, I am finally taking classes with some experts to learn the many techniques I didn’t know when I was just blasting music and painting in a crazy, real and passionate way.

I hope to continue this new love affair with art, learn and share with others that may love, laugh or relate to my crazy paintings!