Maria Karla Watson
New York , New York
Artist Maria Karla Watson explores the emotional language of nature in her paintings and drawings. Birds, flowers, and handwritten texts appear throughout her work. “They are gentle reminders of life’s fragility, its tenderness, and its quiet strength,” says Maria. She studied fine art and credits her teachers with helping her build a strong foundation, though perseverance and a quiet confidence shaped her path. Maria works in her tidy New York City studio while listening to her favorite music. When she’s not making art, Maria finds inspiration on long walks, in books, and through time spent with her family.
Artist Statement
During my career, I have been exploring different media, focusing mostly on drawing and painting. Some series are acrylic on canvas, others are graphite drawing on paper, sometimes vintage papers, too.
My work is a conversation between nature and emotion, a quiet space where birds, flowers, and words come together to tell stories the heart already knows.
I am drawn to the simple beauty of the natural world: the soft gaze of a bird, the bloom of a flower, the curve of a leaf. These are not just images, but feelings made visible, gentle reminders of life’s fragility, its tenderness, and its quiet strength. Behind each artwork, I weave handwritten words, fragments of thoughts, memories, books and reflections. These texts are not meant to be fully read, but felt. Like whispers in the background, they add depth and presence, as if the piece is thinking or remembering alongside us.
Nature holds a language deeper than speech, and through my work, I try to listen to it. Each piece is an attempt to hold a moment still, to honor what is fleeting, and to connect with something greater—something both outside of us and within us.
There are a few artists that influence my work, like Georgia O’Keeffe, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Jasper Johns. Since I was a kid, I think I wanted to become an artist to express myself, and I was always doing something creative like drawing, writing or reading. I see myself in the future trying to continue my work and developing new ideas and projects.
In a world that moves fast, I would love for my art to invite people to pause, to feel, and to find a quiet sense of belonging.
My work is a conversation between nature and emotion, a quiet space where birds, flowers, and words come together to tell stories the heart already knows.
I am drawn to the simple beauty of the natural world: the soft gaze of a bird, the bloom of a flower, the curve of a leaf. These are not just images, but feelings made visible, gentle reminders of life’s fragility, its tenderness, and its quiet strength. Behind each artwork, I weave handwritten words, fragments of thoughts, memories, books and reflections. These texts are not meant to be fully read, but felt. Like whispers in the background, they add depth and presence, as if the piece is thinking or remembering alongside us.
Nature holds a language deeper than speech, and through my work, I try to listen to it. Each piece is an attempt to hold a moment still, to honor what is fleeting, and to connect with something greater—something both outside of us and within us.
There are a few artists that influence my work, like Georgia O’Keeffe, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Jasper Johns. Since I was a kid, I think I wanted to become an artist to express myself, and I was always doing something creative like drawing, writing or reading. I see myself in the future trying to continue my work and developing new ideas and projects.
In a world that moves fast, I would love for my art to invite people to pause, to feel, and to find a quiet sense of belonging.
Artist Background
San Alejandro School of Fine Arts
Bachelor of Fine Arts, 2010
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