Karen Gutowsky's illustration career began with the impending birth of her daughter. The prospect of designing a child's room led to her first poster series. Her paintings are fun and fanciful, depicting children's toys and favorite playthings in bright, primary colors.

Gutowsky earned a B.F.A. in visual communication from the University of Illinois and a master's degree in visual communication from the University of Washington. She is a principal at a large design firm in Seattle, Washington. Her design career has ranged from publication design to graphic design to art direction for such national magazines as Playboy, Inside Chicago, and Washington. She has been the recipient of numerous awards, including those from the Society of Illustrators and the Society of Publication Designers.