Landscape oil paintings created by Spartanburg artist Carol Story during the past year will be displayed in an upcoming exhibition, “Here and There: New Work by Carol Story,” Nov. 4 through 29 in Gallery II of the Artists Collective | Spartanburg.
An artist’s reception will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, as part of Spartanburg ArtWalk. The reception and exhibition viewing are free and open to the public. The art in the show will be offered for purchase with prices ranging from $350 to $650.
“These paintings testify that there is beauty to be discovered anywhere, from a local fishing pond to iconic foreign vistas,” says Story, a native of Georgia who has lived in Spartanburg for 45 years. “Visitors should enjoy seeing the beauty in something new or remembering a similar place they have been, described more permanently in paint. These are landscapes depicting scenes both near – in the Carolinas – and far – from travels in the United States and abroad.”
Story says the works in the exhibit were inspired by comments of those who have viewed her previous art. “I recently noticed that when visitors write in my guestbook, a frequent observation is that they find my work ‘peaceful.’ It is not surprising that viewing my landscapes offers a respite from the busyness and chaos of our daily lives. I experience that same sense of calm in their creation.”
Story, who has been an artist for nearly 20 years, considers her works “representational in style. I sometimes like to push the bounds of what I realistically see. Many of my works are the product of ramblings in Georgia and the Carolinas; others are from travels further afield. I also enjoy painting still life because, as a ‘control freak,’ I like having command over subject, composition and lighting. Whether riotous color or subtlety of shadow, the beauty and insights to be appreciated with landscapes, animals or arranged objects are all inspiration to me.
“As a lifelong student of the spoken and written word, it is both a joy and a challenge to portray what I see through a visual language, contemplating the created work of God or constructed work of man,” she adds. “Seeing first and then seeking to capture movement, reflections, texture or a palette of colors, I strive to communicate truth and beauty to each viewer, however differently. My hope is to arouse an emotion, elicit a memory or challenge one’s imagination.”
Story, who has taught in public schools, the Girl Scouts and in Bible studies, has begun teaching painting workshops at the Artists Collective | Spartanburg.
A member for 10 years, Story says, “I feel very privileged and fortunate to be able to exhibit my work at ACS. When I meet artists from other places, they are envious of the facilities available to artists here. As I am pushing 80 years old, I appreciate that ACS membership provides me an incentive to keep painting and a community of members and visitors who continue to appreciate and enjoy my work.
Story has served on the management board of ACS as receptions chair and now oversees ACS workshops. “I have a studio there, where my work is always on display. I am blessed by the encouragement of this generous community of artists and appreciate the opportunity to grow in my craft and to exhibit here.” She has had solo shows at the ACS each year since 2017 and had paintings accepted in juried shows in Spartanburg and Anderson, South Carolina. She also has work exhibited in the Cable Gallery in Young Harris, Georgia, her hometown. She is a graduate of the University of Georgia in education.
“Our members are uniquely gifted, friendly, humble and always encouraging,” she adds. “Because we are a member-run organization, we get to know one another through both our art and our maintenance of the property.”
