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Karen Castano

MEDIUM     acrylic, oil

FEATURED WORK
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STATEMENT

My name is Karen Castano. I am a contemporary artist and jewelry designer. The learning process is never-ending with exciting discoveries and new ideas. Luckily, I have now reached a point in my life where I am able to focus more time on my interests. I love everything about art. Growing up, I was always drawing, cutting, gluing, sewing or painting something.

I am currently focused on abstract art using multi-media, acrylics or oil. I get my inspiration from my surroundings. I pay particular attention to details such as shapes and colors. I incorporate bold colors and bold lines in most of my work.

BIO/CV

I am a self taught contemporary artist. I live in Elizabeth, New Jersey. I am a member of CAG- Contemporary Art Group in Watchung, New Jersey and have participated in group exhibitions at the following galleries:

Overlook Hospital – Summit, NJ
Farmstead- Basking Ridge, NJ
Atrium Gallery- Morristown, NJ
Somerset County Cultural and Heritage Gallery- Somerville, NJ
The Barron Arts Center- Woodbridge, NJ
Watchung Arts Center- Watchung, NJ
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Virginia Carroll

MEDIUM     acrylic & watercolor

FEATURED WORKS
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STATEMENT

Virginia Carroll taught art in New Jersey public schools for many years before retiring in 2010. In 2004 she was awarded the title of Teacher of the Year for her school as part of the Governor’s Teacher Recognition Program .While children’s art work gave her great joy , she is very happy to have time to devote to her own painting.

Ms. Carroll has a BA in Fine Art Education from Kean University. She has exhibited in various venues in Somerset ,Union , Hunterdon and Middlesex counties . These art galleries are among those places that have shown her work:Gallery U in Westfield, The Artist Framer in Cranford, Swain Galleries in Plainfield. In 2012 Ms. Carroll won Best in Show at the Watchung Art Center’s Member Show and was awarded a solo show at the center . That show, “Serene Winter”, took place in December of 2013 . An additional solo show in the boutique at GalleryU was displayed in October of 2016.

Inspired by nature, people, color, texture, line and mood her artwork has an impressionistic feel. Virginia works primarily in acrylic on canvas and water colors.

BIO/CV

Education /Career :
BA in Fine Arts Education  1970 Kean University
Art Educator for the Metuchen Public Schools  1970-2010
Recent Awards : 
First Place for the juried members show at The Watchung Art Center
Exhibitions :
The Artist Framer ,Cranford   2012
Overlook Hospital ,Summit    2012
Watchung Art Center -Members  Show   2013
Somerset County Cultural and Heritage Commission   2013
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Laura Brown

MEDIUM     oils and watercolors

FEATURED WORK
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WEBSITE     laurabrownpaintings.com

STATEMENT

The constant exposure to a variety of visual images influences my evolving style of artwork. Throughout my childhood in New England I found myself drawn to children’s book illustrations, the work of painters from art history, and contemporary realists. I began drawing and painting in reaction to those artworks.  Now, bold contemplative explorations of color and compositions fascinate me. At the same time I love details of and the nuances of descriptive line.

I am moved to paint by the same spirit that inspired me at two years old to render Humpty Dumpty in crayon on a white cupboard. Only now, it is with oil paint and watercolors that I try to communicate what inspires me. I find myself changing and trying new ways of creative expression yet, somehow I always return to the narrative. It is the story inspires me to paint. The story that is told by each new painting I begin is what interests me. I love the celebration of rich color balancing strong composition.

When viewing my paintings there is no great mystery to unfold. I enjoy painting. It is my sincere wish that the viewer enjoys the experience of viewing the images with as much pleasure as I have in telling the story with paint.

BIO/CV

Laura Brown attended the Norwich Free Academy in Norwich, Connecticut where she began a lifelong love of painting. She then went on to receive a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the School of Visual Arts in NYC.

Two years later she returned to earn a post-baccalaureate certification to teach fine arts. She has taught in public schools and continues to teach classes at her Westfield studio, for the Arts Guild of New Jersey, and for City of Rahway, NJ

Laura’s Illustrations have appeared in magazines and books. She accepts commissions for paintings and portraits, she has created murals and art for installations.

Laura has exhibited in Group and solo Exhibition and shows including: The Artist Framer Gallery, Cranford NJ; Pearl Street Gallery, Elizabeth NJ; Gallery on the Boulevard, Kenilworth, NJ; Norwich Arts Center, Norwich, CT,  Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, Summit, NJ;  Art Way Gallery, Plainsboro NJ

Awards: The Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, Honorable Mention

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Francesca Azzara

MEDIUM     encaustic wax paintings

FEATURED WORK
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WEBSITE     francescaazzara.artspan.com

STATEMENT
Encaustic wax is a medium that predates oil painting. The ancient Greeks first discovered that molten beeswax mixed with pigment could both seal and decorate their boats. Later, the Egyptians used encaustic paint for the portraits on the crypts of their aristocracy. In the 20th century, Jasper Johns rediscovered encaustic painting, a process based medium that offers new techniques each time you work with it.
My  work is a combination of encaustic paint, collage and oil stick. The heated paint solidifies instantly as it is applied to the surface. As I build up layers of paint, I scrape, etch, collage and rebuild my surface. The fragility of wax and the task of manipulating it, offers constant challenges. By its very nature, one must relinquish a certain amount of control as wax has a mind of its own.  While I guide it…it guides me. There is something meditative about working with encaustic wax…the mixing, painting, pouring, fusing and scraping. The very process of painting in encaustic allows for editing and reworking, thus allowing me to create my work much the same as a writer writes a book. The end result is richly textured paintings filled with nuances.
Several of my series explore landscape grounds where familiarity feels unfamiliar. The work sits between near and far…painting and drawing…narrative and non-narrative representations. These imaginary landscapes emerge from a dream whereby the dreamer discovers a world that appears recognizable, yet it is one he/she has never seen. It is a visit to a distant memory…one that cannot be fully recalled but can be comprehended.  It is that fleeting moment, the ambiguity in the psyche, which I strive to make real.