Karole grew up in Ottawa, has visited all 13 of Canada’s Provinces and Territories, and has lived in seven of them, including two Territories. She has spent more than half her life in Newfoundland. After university (M.Sc. biology), she became one of Gros Morne National Park’s first naturalists, for a time overseeing the creation of interpretive media at this World Heritage Site. From her earliest memory, she has experienced passionate curiosity and sensual delight in her environment. Painting in oils from the age of seven, she strives to reflect the grace and dignity of the natural world, with its ephemeral play of weather and colour. She works outdoors on panels, letting the wood shine through to reflect the flickering character of natural light. Virtually all her 11x14” oil “sketches” are made on site; she completes larger canvases in the studio.

Karole has recently completed a period of study in the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design Bachelor of Fine Art program. She continues to learn by painting with other artists and by participating in workshops (Molly Lamb Bobak, Gerald Squires). Her most significant influence has been her father and mentor, Maurice Hall Haycock (1900-1988), introduced her to the intoxicating light of the Arctic. Haycock was a long-time friend and painting companion of the Group of Seven’s A.Y. Jackson.

In addition to portraying Gros Morne National Park and other areas of Newfoundland, Karole’s work looks to other coastlines: north to the Labrador, and to the Arctic, where she often returns to paint. She hopes her particular vision will help others to look intensely, and delight in our natural and cultural environment - the light, forms, and significance that surround us daily.

Karole has created artwork for exhibits, and educational and museum projects. She has given painting workshops in the Arctic, and plans to offer active adventure paint-outs in her home area of Gros Morne National Park. She paints animal portraits and enjoys doing commissions, from life or from photographs.

Solo Shows
1999 Five Years in the Arctic Corner Brook, NL
1999 Finding Our Fathers’ Footprints Pangnirtung, Nunavut
1981 Karole Pittman St. John’s, NL

Small-group exhibitions
2004 Scape (with M. Haycock & E. Pittman: three generations) Gander, NL
1956 Maurice Haycock (2 artists) The Little Gallery Ottawa, ON

Selected group shows
2004 League of Artists of Western Newfoundland Corner Brook NL
1994,97 Great Northern Arts Festival Inuvik, NT
1990 Four Artists’ Show Rocky Harbour, NL
1986 Paintings of Polar Bear Pass (National Museum of Canada) Ottawa, ON