Carole Blaney

My earliest work reflects my experiences in Alaska and Wisconsin, lots of snowy mountains and landscapes. I continue to work in watercolor, love the way water is an active partner, moving the pigment and essentially telling the story with me. Many of those stories show the balance and tension between the white space of the paper and the deeply vibrant watercolor pigments. As the world reacted to Covid, I had my own health crisis and found my work becoming more abstract and richer, more heavily pigmented. My work then was becoming more fluid and changeable, reflecting the confusion I was experiencing. As I recovered, I found new ways to use the contrast of the paper with the honey-based single-pigment watercolor paints I use, resulting in new, more expressive work. Lately I have been experimenting with both more liquid application and textures, still in watercolor but exploring more abstract landscapes, figures, and the impact of light. I am fascinated by the landscapes and seascapes near me here in North Carolina and interactions with people in my new community. I hope my pieces will help you feel the wonder of the world around us.