Today we’d like to introduce you to Carol Granger.
Hi Carol, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I have been involved in some type of creative art my entire life and loved every second of it. As a child, along with my coloring books and crayons, I would draw my favorite cartoon characters from Saturday morning cartoons. As I got older, the Sears catalog became useful because it provided me with “models” to draw from. Because I grew up in a small rural community, there were not many opportunities to develop as an artist.
Art classes in the local school system ended at Junior High. I did manage, however, to work on homecoming floats and paint our mascot on the football field in High School. My mother, however, recognized my interest in art and arranged for me to have some lessons from a local oil painter, my first introduction to mixing color, using good brushes and canvas, and the glorious smell of oil paint.
Along with my interest in art, however, I had a keen desire and eye for organization and design. When my parents built a new home, I was very interested in viewing the floor plans and eager to be on-site during construction. So when deciding on a career path in college, I opted to do a double major in interior design and art education, never once considering a pure art degree. In the 70s, in small-town rural Indiana, women became teachers or nurses, so I felt considering a degree in the arts unachievable and one that my parents would never support.
I had a great experience at University. Along with my design classes, I had the opportunity to take studio classes in art. I loved my life drawing classes, and sculpture and painting classes. Most of these disciplines were totally new to me, not having the introduction to them in high school. But I also thrived in my design classes, learning about building systems, and the history of architecture and furniture, and became a pretty good draftsman.
So when it became time to decide which degree to finish first, I chose design, thinking I could always finish the other degree later. After graduation, I was successful in finding a job in my field right away. Since my concentration in design leaned toward commercial interiors, I found jobs with architectural firms building commercial facilities and soon found my niche in healthcare design. This worked out perfectly since I had married a medical student and already spent lots of time in these types of facilities.
Those years of working as a designer, raising our first child, and having a husband who was never home were HARD. Though I was still interested in painting and drawing, there wasn’t much time for those pursuits. Baking an action figure birthday cake was about as creative as I got in those days. But I still loved every minute of my job and of having a family to care for. I felt the art could always come later.
Fast forward a few years and another child and a relocation to a small town. Because we could afford it, I only do small freelance jobs for fun, but eventually, I begin to seek out ways to fit more art practice into my life. Because I have small children around, I lean more toward drawing. I also discover artist-quality colored pencils and begin exploring using them in my practice.
I had already used them in my graphics classes at University in rendering projects, so they became the perfect medium to have in a house with small kids, no mess, and easy to put down and pick back up again as time allowed. I also began volunteering at the local arts center in town and designed an addition to their building to house a new gallery. I worked in colored pencils for many years, joining the Colored Pencil Society of America chapter in my state and participating in local and regional shows.
As our children grew, I also started painting in watercolor, taking classes and workshops, and competing locally in small shows and some state competitions. A move to another state was the impetus for me to explore painting in oil. Our children were now grown and out on their own, and being an empty nester gave me more time. I remember the first class painting in oil again.
After such a long break, it felt GREAT!! At that time, I had been accepted into a co-op gallery in an arts district that got lots of traffic. While exhibiting, it became clear that oil paintings sold best and I could produce them quicker. Lots of studies in oil painting ensued. I studied with a local oil painter at an art center on and off for ten years. I also joined the local plein air group and began the wonderful experience of painting outdoors (en plein air). This practice, by far, had to be the most difficult and at the same time most rewarding experience for me as a painter.
My sales at the co-op gallery increased and I believe were a direct result of all the study and painting outdoors. Though mostly color studies and not worthy of selling, there was nothing like seeing the color firsthand and trying to get that color mixed and in the surface of the support before the light changed. These studies also became invaluable as a guide for painting indoors in my studio. I had the opportunity to travel to Italy with an instructor to paint plein air and also to France to paint on my own.
Now we are retired, We’ve moved to a western state to be closer to family. Our lives are full. We enjoy grandkids. I continue painting in oil and practice en plein air as often as my time and weather allow. We enjoy hiking, biking, and skiing which affords many opportunities for painting the local landscape, a favorite subject. I’ve joined three different local arts groups and become a member of Oil Painters of America. I pay it forward by volunteering as a board member of one of those organizations.
I’m exhibiting in a local gallery for 4 months of the year, selling my paintings on two websites, and am currently looking for other opportunities. I continue to study, taking workshops and classes because I never want to stop learning and moving forward. I also continue to challenge myself with plein air painting, scheduling more events to compete in this year. And, to top it off, a new house is on the horizon, allowing me to dip my toes back into design to make it our own.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Certainly, the time early in our marriage, when my husband was away for long hours at the hospital, and I was alone with our first child, stick out as a difficult time. I wasn’t able to do much art then and it wore on me. Learning to paint en plein air has been the biggest challenge, but one that I hope to somewhat conquer.
Trying to judge a color outdoors when faced with different light conditions and reflected light that bounces off objects, skewing the local color, is trying at times. It takes a lot of mental energy, as well as physical stamina. But I like the challenge and when a painting is successful, it is so gratifying!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Today, I paint in oil, a medium that I love and that historically has stood the test of time in terms of longevity. I paint mostly landscapes, but do the occasional still life, especially in winter, which keeps my eye sharp for judging color. I think most people would say I am known for capturing light, and how it affects the atmosphere and the mood of a painting. I love a good sunset and these paintings seem to always find a good home.
I am most proud of my family. It is the first creative process that we, as humans, can achieve. Creating a successful family is an art in itself. Secondly, I’m proud of what I have achieved as an artist. I am not the most financially successful artist out there, but I love what I do, it makes me feel connected to the world, and I think that shows in my work.
I would say the thing that sets me apart from other artists is the mood I create in my paintings. I try to express what I’m feeling about a subject when I paint it, and will often write that down before I begin. Even in a still life, the arrangement of objects can make a painting seem intimate or sterile, and of course, I aim for the former.
What makes you happy?
Many things make me happy. My family makes me happy, along with just hanging outdoors on a beautiful day. Sunrises and sunsets can usually bring a tear of joy, their beauty is breathtaking. Painting a successful painting that started out as a failure or struggle, is a joy and inspiration to keep working no matter what.
These things make me happy because I pay attention to them. Living a creative life makes you appreciate it all, the good and the not-so-good.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.carolgranger.com and www.dailypaintworks.com/artists/carol-granger-7050
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/carolgrangerstudios
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carol.granger.942
- Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/carolgrangerart
