Karen Norris

Karen Norris is owner and operator of Our Creative Outlet, a pottery and art studio in Sussex Wisconsin.  Teaching students of all ages, she enjoys simplifying complex concepts while building student skills to help them successfully complete their projects, whether working in clay, painting, drawing, or various arts and crafts.  She also provides encouragement and advice to the many people who use the studio for their independent work in clay.  Her offsite art activities include Artist-in-Residence at local schools, running workshops for students at schools, substitute teaching at home school enrichment programs, making clay items with various school groups, and providing classes as a guest artist at Art enrichment days. 

Educated at both Elmhurst College and Northern Illinois University, she received a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and a minor in Fine Art from NIU.  While her formal art training was in drawing and painting, she was drawn to clay as a way to relax and escape from a high stress job.  As a business owner she strives to provide a creative outlet that serves to refresh and nurture her students and customers.  As an artist, she creates unique functional art and sculptures, and combines her love of sculpting and painting with clay to create unique custom tile work.  Along with a small gallery within the studio, she also sells her artwork at several art fairs during the year.