Today we’d like to introduce you to Carolyn Hancock
Hi Carolyn, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
George Rodrique’s Blue Dog and my husband’s encouragement propelled me into this awesome journey of being an artist. The Blue Dog looked so simple, understated. I told my husband “I can do that” and I actually did paint a very awkward and simple copy of it. Framed and on the way, my painting inspired me to continue. I studied with other artists and have spent more hours at the easel than one could count. Competitions and exhibitions, awards and rejections, learning framing and marketing, giving demos and workshops — it’s all required to become an artist.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It’s a mountain and valley process toward becoming a professional artist. Time is the biggest element, because as soon as I’ve learned one element, there is another equally hard one to master. Sometimes it is strictly art related, like: what kind of technique will work on this piece, or what different colors will tell this story the best, or am I really capable of painting a different genre. Other times, the struggle is in learning a phase of the business or marketing side of art. Either way, the struggles make us better.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
People and seascapes — I paint the beauty in faces and oceans. I use color, sometimes real, sometimes imagined, but always believable in the result. Most of my work is filled with the rich colors of the pastel medium; although neutrals are necessarily sprinkled in, very seldom are they dominant.
In both faces and ocean waves, I like to capture a transient moment, like a stop action from the camera. The face is constantly in motion, eyes, lips, hands, muscles. The ocean never stops movement; it twirls, dances, slams, pounds and recedes. Every small action in either subject creates mood. Painting those moods is what sets my word apart from others.
How do you think about happiness?
Happy is seeing/observing something unexpectedly. my great-grandchildren intent on exploring something new; my cats touching noses; Christmas decorations; a phone call from a friend, a shoutout, something special that my husband comments on (and his every day funny stories). I’m happy when I get close to the end of a painting and it is singing to me “that’s it, you did it.” Hard question, so I guess it’s little things that make me happy.
Pricing:
- One doesn’t know how many hours at the easel and in learning that a painting took, so be respectful when you make an offer.
- Look at an artist’s website to know their style and price range.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://carolynhancock.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolynhancockportraits/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carolyn.b.hancock
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CarolynHancockArtist
