Carol’s work was first displayed at the Spiva Membership Show at the Spiva Art Center in Joplin about 10 years ago. Much to her delight, both of her entries were sold in the annual fundraising event. “I was surprised and thrilled,” declared Carol. “At first, there’s always an element of uncertainty about whether the public will like your work as much as you enjoy doing it, so when you sell a piece, it really validates you.” “Let me clarify something right now, though,” she laughed. “I don’t think it’s possible to ever get rich being an artist. I’ve found that, instead, you have to pay. But when you love to paint, you have to do it, even if you do have to pay.” Experimenting with different painting techniques is also something Carol loves. She’s not afraid to try anything at least once. “I used my husband’s air compressor for several of my paintings,” declared Carol, with obvious glee. “Of course, I had to work outside. It’s a good thing I did, because it made a horrible mess, but it was exciting to see the way the paint responded to the blasts of compressed air. I could never have achieved that look any other way.”
June 2014
Carol also ventures into new territory occasionally by creating whimsical collages as she did in her childhood, this time using a background of Golden Fluid Acrylic paint and found objects, such as buttons, cogs and even small pieces of silverware, to add both texture and interest. Her studio is a veritable treasure trove, containing
drawers upon shelves of small objects she’s collected over the years, simply because she likes them and would like to use them in a painting someday. Since Carol’s first entries at the Spiva Membership Show, her work has been shown numerous times in various local and national venues, including the Thomas Hart Benton Show, and The Southwest Art Alliance Show at Crowder College in Neosho, where she has won several Excellent ratings in Experimental Art. Her work has also been displayed at the Not-So-Square Art Festival and Keen Bean Coffee House in Mt. Vernon, Bookmarks in Pierce City, as well as in the Rotunda of the Missouri State Capitol Building. In 2009, on a whim, she entered a painting in the International Society of Experimental Artists Show, where it was purchased by a buyer in Pennsylvania. It also tickles Carol to tell people that she even has a piece on display in Strasbourg, France. “It’s always surprises me when people recognize my work,” declared Carol. “I don’t think about it as being unique, but every painting has a little bit of me in it, and I guess it shows through.” Carol’s work, including a piece created with the air compressor, is currently on display at Utopian Bean Coffee House and Café in Purdy. To make arrangements for private watercolor lessons, she may be contacted at 417-235-7471. n
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