Formally trained in the field of commercial art, Carol had originally intended to be a fashion illustrator, but her love of animals and several years of raising and showing horses led her in a different direction.
Carol owned and operated The Gifthorse Boutique in Ocala, Florida where she branched out from doing mostly commissioned animal portraiture work to painting on a variety of surfaces including leather goods, clothing and furniture. During this period of time she began her association with the owners and managers of the numerous horse farms in the central Florida area.
"I still consider myself more of an artisan than a fine artist even though most of my work is pets or wildlife on canvas. It's a challenge for me to find a good vintage piece of furniture and visualize it painted as a new work of art!" says Carol.
Since moving to the mountains of north Georgia in 2000, Carol has been inspired to expand her subject matter to include the local wildlife. The black bear has become her favorite to capture on canvas! She has also been experimenting with different mediums and technics."I feel I have more flexibility now to explore new avenues of creativity, and that refreshes me as an artist! But, animals will always be my favorite subjects!".
Now nationally known, Carol's works are owned by such notable people as Oprah Winfrey, George Steinbrenner, and Madeline and Alan Paulson (owners of all time top money earning racehorse CIGAR) Her open edition and limited edition Giclee' prints are available at some of the finest cabin furnishing stores in N. Georgia and North Carolina including Moose Hollow in Murphy, NC, Out of The Woodworks and Cabin Fervor in Blue Ridge, Ga., Doo Dads in Cumming, Ga, Lakota Cove in Jasper, Ga. and in several "horsey giftshops" in Ocala, Fl., International Saddlery, Conyers, Ga. and Keeneland, Ky.
Commissioned pet portraits are still a large portion of her business. " I enjoy doing paintings of people's pets. It's always a treat to see the photos my clients send me to work from and to try to capture the animal's personality from them. I've done paintings for clients as far away as the state of Washington. I talk to some of them on the phone or by e-mail, meet their pets by way of their pictures, but for the most part, never see what my clients look like although they have become my friends through conversation! I love it!
