"Connected to Nature" Mixed media collage paintings by Carolyn Wilson. Exhibit Dates: July 31 - Aug 27 2023 Open daily 11-6 Upstairs Art Gallery, 306 Center Street, Healdsburg, CA (Inside Levin & Company Books, on Healdsburg Plaza). Opening Reception: Saturday August 5th 3:30-5:30pm I will also be hosting the gallery from 11-6 on Saturday August 12th and Friday August 18th if you want to stop by when I"m there. Sonoma County artist, Carolyn Wilson, presents Connected to Nature, a collection of mixed media paintings that capture the artist’s feelings of awe in nature and express the energy and aliveness she observes in flowers, trees and creatures. In “Poppy Patterns” we find dancing poppies and pods that come alive in this piece. “Incorporating both impressionism and realism allows me to convey the energy and spirit of the natural world. When painting, I am completely absorbed, get lost in the flow and totally tap into my intuition. It is mystical, magical, meditative,” says Wilson. Like magical puzzle pieces, thousands of pieces of tissue and rice paper converge to transport the viewer to a special place in nature. An artist for over 20 years, Wilson has participated in Sonoma County Art Trails Open Studios since 2014. Her collage paintings have been published in 2 books: The Encyclopedia of Watercolour Techniques by Hazel Harrison (UK, 2018) and The New Encyclopedia of Watercolor Techniques by Hazel Harrison (USA, 2010). 'Wild Things' art exhibit at Corrick's, Santa RosaExhibit Dates: August 4th - August 26th 2023 Featuring widlife artistry by 4 Sonoma County Art Trails artists: Stephen Heagan, Suki Diamond, Diane Schoenrock and Carolyn Wilson. Opening Reception: Friday August 4th 5-7pm (First Friday) Corrick's, 627 Fourth St, Santa Rosa. Fundraiser to benefit Safari West Wildlife Foundation, who's mission is education, notably bringing 'live' wildlife experiences to brighten the stay of kids in local children's hospitals, and connecting them to the animals at Safari West in Santa Rosa. Safari West was delighted to welcome baby southern white rhino, the preserve's first, born on April 2nd 2023. Named “Otto Lang,” in honor of Safari West founder Peter Lang’s father, who was a Hollywood film producer. Artist and animal lover Carolyn Wilson has captured the baby rhino and his mother Eesha in her signature collage artwork style. (notice the subtle portrait of the human Otto in the collage artwork - look closely to left of artist signature, and map of Santa Rosa). This artwork, and other wildlife art, will be available at Corrick's, and a percentage of all sales from this exhibition will be donated to the Safari West Wildlife Foundation. "Otto and Eesha" ©Carolyn Wilson, 2023, Mixed media collage on canvas 24" x 18" . Original $1490. Fine Art Giclée reproductions are also available. Details captured during the early stages of the collage process. Can you still see traces of these "easter eggs"?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 A heartwarming article about how many Art Trails artists, including myself, responded to the Sonoma County wildfires of October 2017 "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.
Youth Orchestra heading to Austria for an experience of a lifetime 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. Sending young musicians to Austria and Hungary 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 Helping heal our community 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 |
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Carolyn Wilson - Collage Artist
Glimpses into studio life as a working artist - sharing personal insights. Buckle up in the passenger seat as I take you along for the wild ride. Archives
July 2023
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