Karinluise Calasant has been a professional artist and illustrator since 1976. Her ability to draw, knowledge of composition and color, and her zeal for study and research, has enabled her to specialize in a variety of subjects. Ms Calasant has been an equine illustrator for several leading equestrian magazines; a technical illustrator of classical ballet, and painting under a pseudonym, was an aviation artist who depicted the aircraft of both World Wars.
       Moving to Martin County on Florida's southeast coast in 1985, Karinluise fell in love with the flora and fauna of her adopted State. Since then, she has become an advocate of Florida's environment. Realizing that something needed to be done to make people more aware of the fragility and beauty of Florida's environment, Karinluise began painting Florida's landscape in 1996 - recording on canvas these pristine areas... sometimes only slightly ahead of their destruction by developers.
       Her painting abilities combined with her talents as a published writer, and avid horticulturist, has led to a multitude of projects designed to educate the public. She is passionate about preserving and conserving Florida's natural areas, and donates a percentage of all her art sales to Florida nonprofit environmental groups.
       Karinluise Calasant's award-winning Florida landscape paintings are found in many private and commercial collections. Among the list of avid collectors are State Senators, Representatives, Congressmen, and other government officials. Prints of her "Everglades Everlasting" were used as awards during the 21st Annual Everglades Coalition in January 2006. It was the first time a painting of a Florida landscape was used by the coalition for its awards.
       Perhaps her most important legacy for Florida, to date, is her latest book, "Florida Backwoods & Waterways, An Illustrated Journey Through Florida's Environment" The initial self-published edition has been given high praise by both art critics and environmental professionals. The book is being used as a primer on the ecosystems of the Sunshine State at the high school level within the school system. Now Karinluise is working on a larger, more in depth version of the book.
       A member of the prestigious Garden Writers Association, Karinluise has authored several books on environmentally friendly gardening-Florida style. Her botanical garden,"la maison Fleurie" in Jensen Beach, has been the subject for many magazine and newspaper articles, and was, most recently. included in Stuart Garden Club's "Secret Garden Tour" in April 2006 - when the garden received 1,000 visitors. She continues to give tours of the garden and routinely gives lectures on her art, gardening and environment-related subjects.