Our featured artist for the months of August/September, 2017 is ISAP signature member Carolyn H WarmSun.

Carolyn lives in the hills of Oakland, California. She grew up in rural southern Indiana, obtained a Bachelor’s Degree at Southern Illinois University and a Master’s from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. She worked in the field of mental health for many years before beginning a career in Organization Development Consulting. She now paints full time.

The artist notes the importance of nature for her work.  “The Natural World has been for me a source of wonder and awe, sensory input, and beauty. More important, however, I have become increasingly fascinated with the elegant systems of the natural world and the interconnectedness of things. My education and career in human behavior and psychology, along with a life-long love of Native American philosophy and spirituality, has enriched this sense of connectedness. My work strives to reflect the spirit of Nature and the nature of Spirit.”

Her painting process is intuitive and experimental.  About her process, she explains:   “I now paint what I remember, or think about, or feel, or just what comes off my hands to the brush to the canvas.  My process involves asking over and over again, 'What would happen if I….?', then experimenting to find the answer.  I love texture and use a wide range of materials on my canvas before painting:  Venetian Plaster, Spackle, sand, coffee grounds, torn paper,redwood shavings to name a few.  After texturing, I choose my palette, leaning toward warm colors in fluid acrylics.  Next comes a series of decisions about compositional structure and design details.  And then I paint until it feels finished and I am satisfied with the result.  The last step is to turn it in each direction, 'seeing' what it is and naming it to reflect, but not restrict, the perception of others. 

                                                                                            "Pupukea," acrylic on textured canvas, 24” x 30”

Carolyn's artwork has been juried into numerous local, state, national and international shows.  She has received a number of awards including from the International Society of Acrylic Painters.

Her paintings have also been published in books such as A Walk into Abstracts; Journeys to Abstraction; and San Francisco Peace & Hope.  A portfolio of her work has been published in Stillpoint Art Journal.

Visit Carolyn's website:
  www.warmsunart.com