Taking lessons from her mom (a well known artist with paintings all over the world) is how Carol learned to do art. Taking lessons from Doreen Tate, workshops that come to town, and painting with the Creston Valley Art Club every Monday night keeps Carol busy. Her favourite memory is painting with her mom and aunt, both very good artists, both with different advice. The memory of Carol’s mom giving good advice about texture and feeling, and her aunt’s good advice about mixing colors, the final product is absolutely wonderful; a painting of a long time missed friend, “The German Shepard” painted for Carol’s friend.

Nature and people are Carol’s main influences. Her favourite art project is portraits. Her first favourite painting is of her two-year-old granddaughter, her second favourite is a painting of her mother at age 19, and her third favourite is of her daughter at 17 yrs of age (that is not quite finished yet). Carol’s paintings take anywhere from 3-6 hours. She is currently working on two things, a portrait of her granddaughter at the beach and footprints in the sand that is just amazing.

Carol would like to learn more on portraits and watercolours (wet on wet) with flowers, her true love. Carol really likes creating art projects, she looks forward to that time and when she misses a week she knows it! I asked Carol why she does art, and she said, “I have too!”

Art pieces of Carol’s have been shown in gurried art shows in Fernie, Cranbrook and Castlegar. She has her artwork presently displayed at Park Studio Gallery and other businesses around the Creston Valley.

“Under the Tuscan Sun” is Carol’s favourite book; all of “The Lord of the Rings” movies are also her favourites. Carol’s oldest most interesting piece is an oil painting her mom painted of a cougar in 1985.

Carol is a member and the treasurer of the Creston Valley Art Club, and a member of the Canadian Federation of Artists, the Cranbrook Art Club and the Creston Valley United Artist’s Guild. A tip Carol would like to share with other artists is “Never give up, practice constantly and carry sketchbooks everywhere you go”.

Biography taken by Yvonne Sulko