Carol Denn - BIOGRAPHY

Biography

American and French artist Carol Denn grew up in Yorktown, Virginia. She graduated with a BA in Art History with a minor in Communications from the University of Georgia in 2000.

In Paris, Carol studied figure drawing for three years with the ADAC studios and a semester of oil painting at the L'Ecole du Beaux Arts, Paris.

She completed her Masters in Fine Art at Bath Spa University in the UK in 2008 where her exhibition resulted in a sell out show. Uk based artist Carol Denn lives and works from her studio near Bath.

Artist Statement

I am creating contemporary oil paintings with collage on linen canvas. The sandy coloured raw linen is fully protected with a clear primer which allows it to remain visible and a feature in this work. I create an outline using as few marks or brush strokes as possible while maintaining an image that is instantly recognisable and then I add washes of colour and mixed media collage.

I create narratives with paint, collage, text, fabric, stencils and objects around a central theme such as nature, memories and childhood. The retro images, Americana and the subject of childhood found in my paintings bring a sense of nostalgia for a perceived easier time. This escapism continues in the choice of depicting nature and wildlife as colourful scenes suggesting personal or imagined stories.

While my work is representational I am also interested in creating different visual planes by mixing graphic flat areas of paint and stencil with hand painted elements. References to nature can be found throughout my work such as depicting antlers in paint in response to the growing concern the world is facing with regards to the environment.

Having grown up in historical Yorktown,Virginia and now living in Frome, in the UK, history and storytelling are vibrant parts of my paintings. Family images from the 1950's and 1960's Americana are a source of inspiration and make up much of my depictions of people suggesting a personal yet shared history.

Alongside having a strong graphic sense probably from my degree in Communications, years of life drawing has led me to paint the essence of what I represent in hand painted outlines contrasted with flat areas of colour. The tactile nature of the paintings create an intimate space where viewer is drawn in to examine the different textures, depths and mixed media collage objects that project slightly out.

Some of the collage elements in this work are very personal and others have different layers of symbolic meaning depending on how the viewer interprets them. This participation of the viewer to connect with the work and create their own narrative based on the meaning they bring to the painting is what makes these works different for everyone.

Exhibitions

2011
Open Studios Art Trail, Frome Festival
Cameron Contemporary Art, Affordable Art Fair Bristol
Rook Lane Retro, Rook Lane Arts, Frome, UK, April 2011

2010
Retro Rook Lane Art Fair
Rook Lane Arts, Frome, UK
Autumn Art Exhibition RUH hospital in Bath, UK
Consuming Nature, The Octagon, Milsom Place, Bath, UK
2009 6@TheOctagon, Fringe Arts Festival Bath, England
2008 Masters of Fine Art Exhibition, Bath Spa University
2008 MA Interim Show, School Gallery, Bath Spa University
2007 L'Horizon, Monaco

Private Commissions

2008-2009 collage painting consisting of 9 smaller canvases hinged together Private Collection, 5 portrait commissions two of which were double portraits Private Collection

Education

2007- 2008 MA in Fine Art from Bath Spa University, England
2003-5 Three years of figure/life drawing study at the Lycee Henri IV Paris, ADAC studio, working in oil, pastels and charcoal
2003-4 Attended weekly Art History Conferences at L'Ecole du Louvre Paris
2003 Semester of oil painting at the Ecole de Beaux Arts Paris
2000 BA in Art History minor in Communications University of Georgia, USA
1998 Study Abroad in Paris through Wells College, Life Drawing and photography at Parsons College