Karin Hoffman has made a full transition in her career since her first child arrived three years ago, but one aspect has remained constant: the bathroom.

Hoffman worked for A Touch of Class Cleaning before her family expanded, when cleaning the bathroom (among other rooms) was just part of the job. Now, Hoffman is a mother of two, and to help make some money while being at home, she works as an acrylic painter and the most convenient place to
create her works is the lavatory.

“Having a three-year-old and a one-year-old, I have to be on call all of the
time,” Hoffman said. “Being there, I can be central, the kids can come in and I
can drop what I’m doing at a moment’s notice.”

Hoffman started working as an artist just last April, but she’s already enjoyed
some quick successes: two pieces were selected for a beautification process in
Beaverton, Cat’s Moon Coffee in Boring offers her work on t-shirts and mugs,
Wippersnappers in Sandy hired her for a mural in their expanded play space
and her work is currently showing at the Estacada Library through April. After
that, her work will be shown at the Sunnyside Health & Wellness Center in
Happy Valley May 11 through the Clackamas County Arts Alliance (CCAA).

“It’s been pretty exciting,” said Hoffman, a Sandy resident. “It’s really an
honor.”

Hoffman noted that she is mainly self-taught, but that she does have some
artists in the family, including her grandmother on her mom’s side and an
uncle. She described her style as “pop realism,” taking a pop style but
trending towards realistic things, and she prefers to work with bright, vivid
colors.

“It definitely makes you feel happy and glad that your artwork is touching
people,” Hoffman said. “It’s nice when you find people who are drawn to your
style.”

Suzi Anderson, Programs Coordinator for the CCAA, noted that Hoffman’s art
received very high marks.

“It was so colorful and bright and cheery, that the selection committee
thought it would bring a lot of peace and joy to our exhibit galleries,” she said.

The CCAA places artwork from county artists in 18 galleries in 11 venues
throughout Clackamas County, including public buildings, libraries, hospitals,
a bank and health centers, while running a number of programs that promote
art and culture. Anderson added that about half the artists in the exhibit
program are first-timers.

“We feel like it's a win-win-win situation: for the artists to show work, for the
public to have access of different varieties and it beautifies their surroundings,
as well,” she said.

Hoffman, who has also been hired to create commission pieces, noted that her
success has so far paid the art bills and provided some profit on top.

“When I do get to reflect, which isn’t often, I do feel very blessed and
privileged that I’ve gotten to do this,” she said. “So far it really has been
going well, I’ve been thrilled to see that it’s something I can continue to do.
It’s been a thrilling ride.”

Prints of Hoffman’s work and more information are available at
Etsy.com/shop/BlissBrush,
Facebook.com/BlissBrush,Instagram.com/BlissBrush and www.blissbrush.com.