STATEMENT
I am drawn to little signs of the human hand in a landscape, such as a mowed meadow, the roof of a house or a graceful boat; signs that humankind and nature can coexist in a positive way. The mood I want to convey in these landscapes is of mystery and solitude and peace, with humans just hinted at.
I was educated first as a photographer, then as an architect before turning to painting. The photography taught me to compose. The architecture taught me the importance of solidity and simplicity.
Why do I paint? To share my perceptions with others. We all see the world differently and sharing our vision enriches us and helps us understand one another.
What do I paint? Vanishing beauty. The world is changing rapidly. Development is displacing the natural world. Unique places are becoming homogenized and the natural environment is disappearing. We can't take a beautiful landscape for granted any more because tomorrow there may be a cell phone tower in the center of it or a strip mall in its place. My hope is that artists can slow the rush. Perhaps we can help people appreciate what is there and to care enough to preserve it before it is lost forever.
BIO
Carolyn Caldwell is a painter and pastel artist living on Deer Isle. She studied photography and art at University of Montana, San Francisco State and Universite de Strasbourg. She received a degree in Architecture from Boston Architectural Center and moved to the Caribbean where she designed houses for 16 years. She returned to painting in 1987. Caldwell’s subjects often begin in the landscape or in architecture. She is concerned with the dramatic way the changing light can transform the landscape into abstraction, architecture into geometric composition. She has been exhibiting and selling her work since 1995 in Maine and the Caribbean.
She is a signature member of Pastel Painters of Cape Cod, Pastel Painters of Maine, and Deer Isle Artists Association. She gives pastel workshops and private instruction in her studio in Deer Isle.
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2011 Stadler Gallery, Kingfield, ME (scheduled)
2010 Betts Gallery, Belfast, ME (scheduled)
2008 The Grand, Ellsworth, ME
2008 Isalos Fine Art, Stonington, ME
2007 Deer Isle Artists Association, Deer Isle, ME
2007 Wine Cellar Gallery, Ellsworth, ME
2006 Grubbs Gallery, Williston-Northampton School, Easthampton, MA
2004 Wicker Wood & Shells, St. John, VI
2004 Clark House Gallery, Bangor, ME
2004 Deer Isle Artists Association, Deer Isle, ME
2003 Wicker, Wood & Shells, St. John, VI
2003 Grand Auditorium, Ellsworth, ME
2001 Wicker, Wood & Shells, St. John, VI
2000 Wicker, Wood & Shells, St. John, VI
2000 Devonish Gallery, Anguilla, BWI
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2010 Red, Isalos Fine Art, Stonington, ME
2009 Signature Members Show, PPSCC, Cape Cod Museum of Art, Dennis, MA
2009 Red, Isalos Fine Art, Stonington, ME
2008 5th Annual National Exhibition, Connecticut Pastel Society, West Hartford, CT
2008 9th Annual Juried Exhibition, Pastel Painters of Maine, Bath, ME
2007 Millions Taken Daily, University of Maine Museum of Art, Bangor, ME
2007 Summer in Maine, River Tree Center for the Arts, Kennebunkport, ME
2007 Ames Pond, Isalos Fine Art, Stonington, ME
2007 Signature Member Show, Pastel Painters Society of Cape Cod, MA
2006 Invitational Group Show, Flanagan Fine Art, Portland, ME
2006 Church & State: Politics & Religion, UMVA, Blum Gallery, COA, Bar Harbor, ME
2005 "33rd Annual Pastels Only," Pastel Society of America, National Arts Club, NY.
2005 "Warflowers - From Swords to Plowshares," USM Art Gallery, Portland, ME, (Travelling)
2005 "For Pastels Only on Cape Cod," Pastel Painters Society of Cape Cod, Chatham, ME
2005 "Night - from Twilight to Dusk," Isalos Gallery, Stonington, ME
2005 "Poetry in Pastels," Signature Members Show, PPSCC, Cahoon Museum, Cotuit, MA
2004 "Renaissance in Pastels," Connecticut Pastel Society, Slater Memorial Museum, Norwich, CT
2004 Pastel Painters of Maine National Juried Show, Kennebunk, ME
2004 Signature Members Show, Pastel Painter Society of Cape Cod
2003 "Monhegan," McGrath Dunham Gallery, Castine, ME
2003 "Realism," The Clown, Portland, ME
2003 Signature Members Annual Juried Show, PPSCC, Cape Museum of Fine Arts, Dennis, MA
2003 "Shelter," Union of Maine Visual Artists, College of the Atlantic, Bar Harbor, ME
2002 "Small Works Landscape Exhibition," Clark House Gallery, Bangor, ME
2002 "Sixth Annual Juried Exhibition," International Association of Pastel Societies, Placerville, CA
2002 Signature Members Juried Show, Pastel Painters Society of Cape Cod, Marion, MA
2001 Union of Maine Visual Artists, Blum Gallery, College of the Atlantic, Bar Harbor, ME
1999 "Shari Erickson and Carolyn Caldwell," Wicker, Wood & Shells,, St. John, VI
1998 National Juried Show, Pastel Society of North Florida, Ft. Walton Beach, FL
1998 10th Annual Caribbean Color Exhibit, St. Thomas, VI
HONORS AND AWARDS
2010 Merit Award, Pastel Painters of Maine International Exhibit
2010 Pastellistes du Monde, Practiques des Arts website,
2010 Residency, Foundation OBRAS, Evoramonte, Portugal
2010 State of the Art, Pastel Journal, Jan/Feb 2010
2007 Honorable Mention, Pastel Journal’s Pastel 100
2006 Fellowship, Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, VT
2005 Hudson Valley Art Association Award, Pastel Society of America, NYC
2004 Pastel Journal Award, 5th Annual Juried Exhibition, Kennebunk, ME
2002 Solo Show Award, Clark House Gallery, Bangor, ME, juried by Carl Little.
Signature Member, Pastel Painters of Maine
Signature Member, Pastel Painters Society of Cape Cod
