Staff photo by Fritz Busch New Ulm artist Kara Carlson and her graphite rabbit sketch at her art show that opened at Ulm Sweet Ulm, 203 N. Minnesota St. Thursday. Her art including New Ulm landscapes and landmarks will be on display through Dec. 31.

NEW ULM — A local artist with a wide variety of work is featured downtown at Ulm Sweet Ulm, 203 N. Minnesota St. through December 31.

Kara Carlson’s art show includes New Ulm landscapes and landmark paintings, the center of Sleepy Eye and Split Rock Lighthouse on the Lake Superior’s north shore, among many other exhibits.

Known as “The Chalk Lady” in New Ulm during the COVID pandemic, Carlson did daily sidewalk art in front of her South Washington Street home for months. She added inspirational quotes and created a children’s book titled “A Little Story about Sidewalk Chalk Art.”

The book features her chalk art drawings which she found to be a great pastime and way to deal with living during the pandemic.

Carlson’s neighbors encouraged her to take photos of her chalk drawings which make up a good share of the book. She added puns, jokes and philosophical messages with her art to create a positive message.

She said doing sidewalk art during the pandemic was a great way to inspire neighborhood children to join her in creating sidewalk art and to form a chalk club.

Carlson’s art includes watercolors, oil and acrylic paints, chalk pastels plus colored pencil and graphite sketches. She finds inspiration through photos she’s taken.

Carlson talked about how she became interested in art.

“I loved drawing since I was really little. I had a great mom and dad who always supported me with art supplies,” she said.

After taking as many art classes as she could and graduating from St. Cloud Cathedral High School, she majored in Communications and Comprehensive Art at St. Cloud State University.

Carlson studied art history, art philosophy and many art methods plus fine arts in college.

“Most of my art work was part-time on a freelance basis. I worked in human resources much of my career,” she said.

In New Ulm, Carlson was a Boy Scouts Cub Master, worked at thrift stores and delivered rural mail.

During the COVID pandemic, she became a sidewalk chalk artist after reading a newspaper story about the value of positive messages.

“Many people in New Ulm got to know me as a cartoonist and a joker due to my sidewalk art,” said Carlson.

“Most of my art is based from photos. Other times, I’d take my kit and sit outside on a beautiful day and paint. I painted a railroad bridge near New Ulm one day. Another example was my favorite trail near Nisswa,” she said. She’s also done paintings from photos she took in Arizona and Hawaii.

“Inspiration can come in many ways. I bought ceramics at a thrift store that inspired me to do abstract art. Sometimes, it leads me to do realism,” said Carlson.