Carol Corliss
I have always had a love for art and beautiful crafts that make me happy. I took classes and workshops with local artists and worked on my own to learn how to work with pastels.
Q&A with Carol Corliss
How would you describe your background?
My love for art & crafts started as a child. My interests grew as I entered adulthood, and I ventured into ceramics, gardening, cake decorating, chair caning, knitting, porcelain dolls, quilting, woodworking…literally anything I could make with my hands, but I didn’t start painting until about 1994. In 2001, I discovered pastels, and I was drawn in by their vibrant colors and buttery-soft sticks.
My love for nature inspires every stroke of my work. My inspiration comes from my surroundings. I paint landscapes and animal & floral portraits that invite viewers to immerse themselves in the scene—whether it’s stepping into a serene vista or feeling the texture of an animal’s fur. My goal is to share the beauty that I see in the world and evoke a heartfelt connection with my audience.
Professional Affiliations
– Signature Member of the Pastel Society of New Hampshire.
– Associate Member of the Pastel Society of America.
– Active memberships in the Vermont Pastel Society, Pastel Society of Maine, Monadnock Area Artists Association and the Saxtons River Art Guild.
When did you know you wanted to be an artist?
I have always been interested in art & crafts. As a child I was either reading, making something out of found items, or working with kits from hobby stores. I never thought I could paint and I didn’t realize I could actually learn. My first art teacher told me that art is all about seeing , so I started lessons in acrylic and then eventually pastels.
What would surprise people to learn about you?
My email address, bagel@etc. doesn’t have anything to do with bagels…. We had a dog named Muffin and later a dog named Bagel. I took my dog’s name for my email.
How would you describe your art to someone who has never seen it?
My art is fairly realistic and detailed. Try as I might to be loose and impressionistic, my mind and my hand don’t cooperate!
What achievements in the area of art are you proudest of?
I have become a Signature Member of the Pastel Society of NH and in 2020 I was one of eight artists chosen for the Library Arts Center Selections Show.
Also, when I started in pastels there was a real lack of instructors and workshops in the area of pastels. I asked the then president of MAAA if I could start a workshop committee. I became the chair and this committee was very successful for MAAA and we brought in artists in all mediums.
How would you describe your art process?
I’m sure I have a process but it’s not something I think about. I’m always taking photos of things I love, mostly anything to do with nature. I have way more photos than I could ever paint, but when the mood strikes for the right one, I will sketch it on paper and jump in.
What is your usual studio/working day like?
I don’t, unfortunately, paint every day. Life gets in the way, but I am okay with that. Art is a joy, not a chore and when the time is right, I will paint.
What is the most delightful part of your life outside of work?
Being with family and friends and our new, long awaited, grandson.