MaryBeth Karaus is a graduate of the DAAP program of the University of Cincinnati, but her artistic training began years before any formal study. Her mother was a passionate artist, and she was raised with an intrinsic appreciation and understanding of art.
Karaus first began her career as an artist in watercolors, a form she was drawn to from the teaching of Robert James Foose of the University of Kentucky. As a watercolor artist she was juried into the Kentucky Watercolor Society Aqueous Show, the Lexington Art League Nude Show and the Cincinnati Art Club Viewpoint show. She also became a Signature member of the Cincinnati Art Club.
In 2006, she won the Top Award of Excellence from the juried exhibition of the Woman’s Art Club of Cincinnati. In 2012, she took an intensive study of classical drawing and painting with artist David Mueller. In the last ten years, her work was accepted into the Oil Painters of America National Juried Exhibition seven times, and she was awarded status of Signature Member of OPA in 2015. The year 2017 also included the Impressionist Honorable Mention at the National Show for her “Fragile Morning” piece. She was very honored to be asked to be a demo artist for the 2017 National Convention.​
Karaus is an active member of the Cincinnati Art Club. Founded in 1890, it is the second oldest continually operating art club in the country. Just recently she was awarded First Place at the CAC Viewpoint 53 show in October of 2021. She currently displays her work at Eisele Gallery of Fine Art in Cincinnati, Ohio, Elizabeth Pollie Fine Art in Harbor Springs Michigan, and Wally Workman Gallery in Austin, Texas.