Press Release
Date: For immediate release 3/15/2019
 
African Adventures, mixed media paintings by Carolyn Wilson
Exhibit runs April 1- April 28 2019
Artist reception: Saturday April 13th 5-8pm
 
Is an African safari on your bucket list? Artist Carolyn Wilson has recently crossed it off hers, and it was truly an experience of a lifetime. Wilson's  new series of mixed media collage paintings share her feelings of privilege and awe at being able to observe these magnificent animals up close and personal. Her paintings capture some of her favorite wild animal encounters, especially her favorites, the elephants. 
In Carolyn's collages you will find imaginative use of color and a tactile, textured surface that you may want to touch. Her paintings are also infused with personal history as the beginning layers of collage  are embedded with ephemera, such as maps, words in foreign languages and tickets collected on her travels. So that adds to the story of the piece. Each painting starts very spontaneously with elements of randomness and eventually gets reigned in and refined as it evolves.  "Each painting takes on a life of its own, and the end result is a surprise even to me.  Creating is nothing short of a magical and totally absorbing process." says Carolyn Wilson.
Carolyn Wilson was born and raised in England, and emigrated to the USA when she was in her mid-twenties. She has been an artist for 20+ years and  lives in Sebastopol. Carolyn has participated in Sonoma County Art Trails open studio tour since 2014. Her paintings  have been published in 2 books: The Encyclopedia of Watercolour Techniques by Hazel Harrison (2018) and The New Encyclopedia of Watercolor Techniques by Hazel Harrison(2010)
###
Gallery is open 11-6 Daily
306 Center Street, Healdsburg, CA 94558
www.upstairsartgallery.net
(707)431-4214
 
 
 
 

"Art can memorialize a joyous occasion, but it  can also strengthen, inspire, encourage and support us in difficult and challenging times".... begins the article written by artist Jan Schultz.

Thanks to the generous crowd that attended the Santa Rosa Symphony League fundraiser "Evening in Vienna" multiple thousands of dollars were raised to help pay for 70 excellent young musicians to go on tour  in Austria. My violin alone raised over $1,000 during the live auction portion of the evening.
24 Artists from Sonoma County were given broken and unplayable instruments to turn into works of art. To see pictures of many of the other creative violins  check out the article in the Press Democrat here.

This 'cause' has my support, as I know first hand what a fantastic opportunity this is, so I jumped at the chance to get involved! My multi-talented daughter was a flautist in the SR Symphony Youth Orchestra and, as a High Schooler, had the opportunity to go on tour with the orchestra and  play concerts in the Czech Republic and Berlin.

This year, as a fundraiser to send this years' top musicians to Austria and Vienna, the Santa Rosa Symphony League has organized "An Evening in Vienna" event of eating and waltzing and bidding. Among items to be auctioned off, over 25 violins have been painted by top local artists, 10 of those have been selected for the live auction, and my "Fountaingrove Round Barn" violin is one. To see the violin in person, visit Corrick's Stationery Store, 637 4th Street, in the heart of downtown Santa Rosa (maybe while you are in line for some limited edition Pliney the Younger at Russian River Brewing?)

Click here to buy Evening at Vienna tickets online from Santa Rosa Symphony.
Cost:$25 per person.
Date:April 14th 7-10pm.
Location: SRJC Shone Farm in Forestville
https://tickets.srsymphony.org/TheatreManager/1/tmEvent/tmEvent1344.html

Thanks to everyone who has purchased art from me over the past month or so in the knowledge that money was being donated to help Sonoma county fire relief efforts. You all know who you are. Thank YOU! I thought I'd just check in to let you know how 'we' are doing so far.

In the spirit of full transparency and accountability, my art sales have generated $1891 for fire relief so far ....and this is not including any online or in person orders for Fountaingrove Round Barn prints, but know that my intention is to donate the proceeds to RCU North Bay Fire Relief Fund. 

$1126 to Redwood Credit Union North Bay Fire Relief Fund - from sales during Sonoma County Art Trails Open Studios
$350 to Sebastopol Center for the Arts - Art Trails Artist Relief Fund
$415 to 'Go fund a Hero' for the firefighters who lost their own homes (Peacetown benefit at Sebastopol Community and Cultural Center).
(NOTE: To customers who have ordered Round Barn prints - they are in stock now  - I will be contacting you to complete your orders. Thanks in advance!).
With graditude
Carolyn

CAPTURED FOR POSTERITY:
The Fountaingrove Round Barn as we will fondly remember it.... painted earlier this year in the spring of 2017.

I plan to start taking orders for small (7"x7") fine art giclée reproductions of this painting during Sonoma County Art Trails this weekend. All money from the sale of this reproduction will be donated to Redwood Credit Union North Bay Fire Relief Fund, which guarantees 100% of donations directly aids victims in our community.

Please use my contact page if you are interested in placing an order. I have prints on watercolor paper in stock. Prints come complete with archival mat - to fit a 12 x 12 inch frame (standard size - readily available).
Shipping available with tracking for an additional $7

Suggested donation is $50 for matted, ready to frame print ($40 for unmatted) ... it's all going for a great cause. Thank you.

UPDATE: As of 11/24-17 Round Barn prints are also available at Upstairs Art Gallery, 306 Center Street, Healdsburg. Open 11-6 daily.

The original painting has just been purchased, and 100% of the money has been donated to Art Trails Artist Relief Fund.  You can still see the original painting at my Sebastopol art studio during the 2 weekends of Sonoma County Art Trails October 21/22 and 28/29 before it goes to its new home.

INFERNO: So sad.....Fountaingrove Round Barn, Santa Rosa, California - razed to the ground during the devastating wine country wildfires of October 9 2017. Gone but not forgotten...

Some of the steps along the way....

Recipe:
Take one real grape leaf.
Cover leaf with liquid latex and press leaf onto watercolor paper. Press down to 'print' the leaf.
Let dry.
Remove leaf.
Paint with watercolor - the latex will preserve the veins and leaf shape.
Remove latex.
Collage with rice paper.
Have fun adding color with watercolor, acrylic inks, water soluble crayons - designing a colorful background.
​Voila!

Available at Upstairs Art Gallery, Healdsburg.

Art imitates life.......A happy customer emailed this pic of my Red Gravenstein painting hanging in her dining room. Paying homage to the Gravenstein apple, a local variety which Sebastopol is celebrated for. Thanks Carol!