Meet Carol

At 76 years young, I’m sure you don’t want to read a year-by-year list of my artistic exploits, so I’ll share the chatty highlights instead.

I sold my first “painting” at the age of seven — a color-by-number landscape I carefully filled in using the exact shades shown on the guide. My Uncle Martin bought it for 50 cents, and I was hooked.

There were no more sales for ten years, but I certainly began to ignore the lines and play with color.

My parents encouraged my artistic abilities — traits shared with my father and grandfather — so naturally, I chose art as my college major and later completed a year of graduate study.

Outdoor art shows followed, where I mostly sold painted rocks while displaying my more traditional classwork. It was my first real chance to share my art with people who weren’t teachers or relatives.

A few ribbons and awards came my way, giving me the confidence to keep going. Still, after college, the reality of earning a living set in. Art took a back seat for a while — but it was never forgotten.

Eventually, I returned to Cincinnati after sampling life in a few other places, and my artistic focus reignited. I held two solo shows, sold work in several galleries, and received three operating support grants from the City of Cincinnati. Opening my own gallery at Findlay Market was a turning point, allowing me to connect with so many new art lovers. I enjoyed a wonderful three-year run — the space was graciously provided during market renovations — and I was so grateful. (It’s now a pet food shop!)

But times change, and I soon found myself helping my husband renovate a charming group of 1880s buildings. I learned plenty of new skills — and had great fun — though I only made art when I could put down the plastering tools. These days, my enthusiasm for climbing ladders has faded, and happily, someone else is willing to do it.

So here I am again, with a renewed and joy-filled focus on painting.

Like any lifelong practice, my work has evolved tremendously. What you see on this site represents my recent paintings from the last three years. I once painted from photographs, plein-air scenes, and still-life arrangements, always chasing detail. Now, I rely more on imagination, emotion, and memory — and it feels wonderfully freeing.

Thank you for visiting and spending time with my art. I hope you enjoy this selection of recent work and return often to see what new pieces appear.