About
Carol Barnwell
ARTISTS STATEMENT
Carol Barnwell
I absolutely love the miracle that is painting. I love to take a range of colours and blend them on a canvas in a way that brings joy, light, thoughts, and feelings into our lives. I love the way a painting can tell a story or bring back memories.
There is so much poverty, hunger, violence, and bloodshed in the world. We also face ever increasing threats from global warming to the dark web, from social media trolls to artificial intelligence, all of which contribute towards subliminal anxiety in our lives. This is why, as an artist, I am drawn to creating quiet, peaceful, and up lifting paintings, that offer, even if just for a moment, a counterbalance to all the chaos.
Creating something gentle and uniquely beautiful is a wonderful way to express myself. I am a strong person who has always loved a challenge, and painting offers me a consistent and ongoing challenge in pursuit of perfection. Perfection is something so elusive it can never be attained, but the desire to achieve it, keeps my art constantly evolving and revealing new and hidden parts of me.
My style is generally hyper-realist, and I love to paint small series of paintings from a variety of different subject matter from the natural world, rather than reproducing one successful painting over and over again. I hope that by remaining loyal to my creative instincts, my work reveals an honesty that people can connect with. I am a patient person, someone who strives for quality over quantity and feels rewarded whenever my art makes someone smile (or shed a tear).
Awards & Achievements
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A Level Art Prize – Top Student
Aspects of Art Show 2023 – Second Prize $1000
Curator’s pick Downlands Art Show
Doyle’s Art Prize 2023 – Finalist
Lethbridge Galley Art Prize – Finalist (On line)
5 Joint and 1 Solo exhibition
Aspire Gallery, Brisbane, QLD
Margaret Street Gallery, Toowoomba, QLD
Pepper Box Gallery, Warialda, NSW
The Storeroom, Toowoomba, QLD
Chase and Hide, Toowoomba, QLD
Matilda’s Artisan Leather, Tenterfield, NSW
BIOGRAPHY
Carol Barnwell
Carol studied art at senior school, and attended the Peter Birch School of Art, before graduating as a veterinarian. After enjoying a successful career, Carol decided to pursue her lifelong interest in art full time.
She is an active member of the Professional Artist Institute, The Toowoomba Art Society and The Back Road Artist Group, who received an ‘Australia Day – Cultural Award’ in January 2024.
Carol exhibited in 7 shared exhibitions and one solo exhibition. Carol also won a non-acquisitive $1000 prize at the Aspects Art Show, was a curators pick at the Downlands
Art Show , was selected as a finalist in the Doyles Landscapes Art Awards, and as a finalist in the Lethbridge
Gallery $20000 small scale art award. Carol is represented by retail/gallery outlets in Qld and NSW.
