Carol Carter is a watercolour artist who shares her process and upcoming paintings with us on the internet, all the while maintaining a practice full of lush, bright colours and Italian landscapes.
You have a great web presence- you have Facebook, a blog, and a website, as well as quite a few hits on your name. What are your thoughts about publicizing your work on the internet, and what do you feel is most effective?
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I have enjoyed a presence on the web for the last 10 years. It has captured a broader audience for my work – and allowed my career to grow in ways it wouldn’t have locally. I love the interaction of the web now — the tools that make it easy to correspond and connect. I feel that my website is a 24/7 business card — available whenever you want to take a look. Right now, I think my blog and Facebook are most effective.
How do you most often exhibit your work? You have an upcoming show, “Little Italy”- we blog readers have seen sneak previews of what work you’re going to show already. When and where is it? How did it all come together- finding the space, publicizing, etc. Which came first- the plan to have the show or the realization that you have this great series of Italy-themed work?
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I exhibit my work in small spaces — or my studio. I have a studio that can be switched into a gallery-setting with a little help. It’s a ground floor business space — and looks very professional. I will probably hold the LITTLE ITALY show there — unless another venue comes along. I show in all sorts of spaces– retail, gallery, non for profit, coffee shops, etc.
The LITTLE ITALY show will be in the late spring — in my studio in St Louis.
I went to Italy last summer — with the desire to capture images to paint. I went to Florence and Lucca. I photographed a lot, and started to develop the show in the fall. It didn’t start to come together until the middle of October when I began to see relationships between all of the paintings. Soon it gathered momentum — and now I have 17 finished paintings and 20 more to come. When the rest are completed — I will post invitations -both email and regular mail to my clients. There will be an opening and a few days of exhibit.
Do you do a lot of traveling? How does it figure into your work?
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I am beginning to travel more and more — now that my son has grown and moved to LA. I travel to gain inspiration — return to the studio and paint. It’s been a lifelong dream to be flexible — travel the world, visualize shows…. and document my inspiration. My next dream-travel is the Silk Road in China.
What’s your studio space like?
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My studio is a street level corner space — in residential neighborhood. I will send a digital.
Do you have an open studio that people can drop in and see your work, or a gallery space in your studio?
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People drop by and see my work all the time. I paint in the windows of my studio — allowing anyone to observe the creative process.
What’s your process like?
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My paintings are done on a movable easel, or on the wall.
My watercolors are painted on the floor.
You specialize in watercolours- what’s the thing you love most about the medium?
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I love the organic quality of the paint. It’s a paint that “moves” around and has a mind of it’s own! I love to allow watercolor to behave as watercolor and not try to control it too much.
You sometimes post about your pieces as they leave you and join the collections of others- and always seem delighted to see your work find a great home. How do you maintain relationships with your collectors?
I email my clients and also send postal updates 4 times a year. This keeps me in touch with them on a regular basis. My best customers are my repeat customers. I also have studio openings at least once a year — inviting everyone.
What’s your favorite success- any kind- (it could be a magazine article or one of those moments when someone falls in love with a piece)?
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I think I like it best when someone responds positively to my work — and relates to it in a meaningful way. I try to make work that resonates with others on a really human, genuine, authentic level.
I love the openings I’ve had– when I can see/hear the responses to my work.
3 Comments
To me, the first paragraph of this articel has a slight error…it is more that Carol Carter is a process who shares her watercolors with us, than the other way around! In the years I have known her, I have seen each span of painting lead to a next level, not just in a more typical growth of a gifted artist’s process, but in her revloutionary process of gaining exposure, communicating to established as well as newly interested people, and tying it all together in a seamless presentation. Beyond her watercolors, her ability to let us into her world and the paintings that comes from it, is an art that many painters do not have…even often balk at! Ask her about the tatoo advertising and promotion!
Is there any wonder that she is so well known? People come to know not only her work, but actually get to KNOW Carol! And, what a fun loving, kind-hearted, adventurous, observent, edgey, open, and many other cool adjectives kind of person Carol is, to get to know. My suggestion: Stay Tuned!!!!
Carol, I just read What’s Behind Carol Carter’s Watercolors and I tell you, I learn something from you all the time. I have many of your watercolors in my home and they embrace me every day with you. they are precious to me, just as you are. I always look forward to what you are doing next. I’m anxious to see your Italy show, as I so encouraged you to go there. It will be great. Lotsa Love Jacque Clark.
Twitter: artistkatanab
What a delight your comments are; Carol is definitely a fantastic artist!