About | NC | Carmenart

About me

Art has been my lifelong joy, though I began painting with dedicated focus after retirement. I find as much pleasure in studying art as I do in creating it—exploring the techniques, history, and different mediums that shape artist expression.

My work primarily features photo-realistic still-life compositions, often centered on glass and reflective objects. These subjects captivate me with their complexity and beauty. I’m drawn to the subtle interplay between light and shadow and the challenge of rendering transparency and depth. Using both colored pencils and water-soluble oils, I build my pieces through careful layering of color, with close attention to fine detail and tonal contrast.

My artistic interests also include painting wooden nesting dolls and Santa Claus carvings, bringing personality and charm to each figure. I authored Paint Your Own Nesting Dolls, a complete guide available on Amazon, designed to help others explore this joyful decorative tradition.

Membership:

Colored Pencil Society of America

CPSA, District Chapter 114

CPSA, District Chapter 119

Works exhibited:

CPSA Southeast Regional Exhibition, The Fine Art of Colored Pencil, Juried Show, Annette Howell Turner Center of the Arts, Valdosta, GA, 2024

Colored Pencils Creative Explorations, Page Walker Arts & History Center, Cary, NC -- 2024

Jerry's Artarama September Monthly Challenge -- 2024

CPSA 31st Annual International Exhibition, Juried Show, Summit Hotel Gallery, Cincinnati, Ohio -- 2023

Fine Art of Colored Pencils, Alamanance Arts, Graham, NC -- 2023

The Excitement of Colored Pencil, The Woman's Club of Raleigh, NC -- 2023

The Fine Art of Colored Pencil, Yadkin Cultural Center, Yadkinville, NC -- 2022