Biography

Originally from the Northwest, Carol has made West Texas her home for over 20 years. Envisioning herself as an artist at a young age, she began taking classes at every opportunity. She tackled various media throughout her education, culminating with an MFA in Design from the University of Washington.

After completing college, she spent three years in South America, mostly with the Peace Corps. Returning to the Northwest, she began her family while starting a career in graphic arts. Moving to Texas, she worked as a freelance artist. Her need for a more creative outlet eventually led her to return to work as a studio artist. She has studied with several local and nationally known artists and continues to take classes whenever possible. She now lives in Lubbock, Texas with her husband. She has four daughters, occasionally teaches and paints full time in her studio.

After painting exclusively in water based media over the past 15 years, in 2006 she returned to oils, the medium she began with as a child. She is a dedicated painter, her goal is to complete a painting a week. Carol has received numerous local and national awards for her paintings including being accepted in the prestigious 2009 Oil Painters of America National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils.

She is also a contributor to the encouragement of the arts and artists in the Lubbock community. Carol has served as president of both the Lubbock Arts Association and the West Texas Watercolor Society, and was chair of exhibits for the Texas Watercolor Society. She has received the Lubbock Art Alliance 2006 Helping Hand ACE Award and the LHUCA 2009 William D. Kerns Award for her work on Local Color Studio Tour. In 2009, she was the C0-Chair of the Lubbock Arts Festival, “Arts in Overdrive”.

Artist's statement
   For me, nothing is more demanding, challenging and compelling than art. I try to keep in mind that there are “no rules” and to paint free of restrictions. I like to design and paint images that have lots of energy, interesting light, an unusual perspective, or a dynamic strength that attracts my attention. I challenge myself with painting people -- everyday people doing everyday activities that tell a story, show an attitude or make you feel an emotion.

Western Federation of Watercolor Societies 30th Annual Watercolor Award 2005
Polly Howerton Transparent Watercolor Award TWS 56th Annual Exhibition 2005
Winsor Newton Award Texas Watercolor Society 55th Annual Exhibition 2004
Liquitex Award Western Federation of Watercolor Societies’ 28th Annual Exhibition
Best of Show Texas Watercolor Society 53rd Annual 2002
Traveling Show 2002-2003 Texas Watercolor Society
Canson Inc. Arches Paper Award Texas Watercolor Society 52nd Annual 2001
Traveling Show 2001-2002 Texas Watercolor Society
Hal P. Moore Experimental Award 79th National Watercolor Society Show
Traveling Show 1999-2000 National Watercolor Society
Merchandise Award New Mexico Watercolor Society Spring 2000 Show
Governors Award Fiftieth Annual Exhibit of the Texas Watercolor Society 1999
2nd Place New Mexico Watercolor Society 1999

Oil Painters of America Western Regional Juried Exhibition 2009
Oil Painters of America National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils 2009
Hunting Art Prize Competition, Houston, TX 2008
Northwest Watercolor Society Waterworks 2004
Rocky Mountain National Watermedia 31st Annual 2004
Northwest Watercolor Society Waterworks 2003
Watercolor West XXXV 2003
Taos National American Watercolor Honors Exhibition II 2003
Texas Watercolor Society 54th Annual Exhibition 2003
Rocky Mountain National Watermedia Exhibition 2002
National Watercolor Society/Philadelphia Water Color Society Exhibition 2002
Taos National Exhibition of American Watercolor VI 2001
Western Federation of Watercolor Societies 26th Annual Exhibition 2001
Arizona Watercolor Association National Watercolor Exhibition 2000
Taos National Exhibition of American Watercolor V 2000
Watermedia 2000, Watercolor Art Society-Houston Spring 2000
Taos National Exhibition of American Watercolor 1998

Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts “A Year in Lubbock” Our Centennial Year 2009
Texas Tech International Cultural Center “The Places You’ll Go, The People You’ll See” 2007
Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts “30 Years, 30 Countries” 2007

Western Federation of Watercolor Societies
Texas Watercolor Society
Taos National American Watercolor Society

Watercolor Magic, May 2003, “Grandma Loved Myron Florin”
International Artist, October/November 2002, “Grandma Loved Myron Florin”
Watercolor Magic, 1997 Watercolor Showcase, Summer 1998
Cover of Tempo, The Arts and Entertainment Magazine of the Taos News, 1998

• 2009 Lubbock Art Festival Co-Chair
• Lubbock Area Foundation
• Lubbock Art Alliance
• Lubbock Art Association
• Texas Watercolor Society
• West Texas Watercolor Society

Masters of Fine Arts in Design University of Washington, Seattle 1975
Bachelor of Arts In General Art University of Washington, Seattle 1973