Karen L Maness

Karen L. Maness is the principal instructor of scenic art and figurative painting for the University of Texas at Austin, Department of Theatre & Dance, and Scenic Art Supervisor at Texas Performing Arts. Her career as a scenic artist and studio artist spans 25 years, working extensively in regional theatre, themed attractions, industrial display, film and music tours, presenting master painting classes in the United States and abroad. Ms. Maness studied studio art and set design at Whittier College in Los Angeles, CA and continued her studies at Cobalt Studios in White Lake, NY, and The Florence Academy of Art in Italy. Her studio practice and design work include public art, exhibitions, consultation, and corporate commissions. Her paintings have been exhibited nationally and are held in private collections worldwide.  Ms. Maness is the co-author of The Art of the Hollywood Backdrop, the definitive behind-the-scenes history of one of Hollywood’s most closely guarded cinematic secrets finally revealed—painted backdrops and the scenic artists who brought them to the big screen.