Conversations with Carol McSweeney

Today we’d like to introduce you to Carol McSweeney.

Hi Carol, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I am a passionately devoted watercolor artist. The path that led me to this amazing and fulfilling career was a meandering one, and my experiences along the way fed my career-to-be.

Early on, my fascination with human resiliency and spirit led me to careers as a special education teacher, school counselor, and school psychologist. I developed an interest in photography, and although I photographed many subjects, I was particularly drawn to the challenge of portraying people and their emotions.

A group of teens asked me to teach them to paint, and never having taken art courses, I lacked skills. Somehow, they convinced me to take a 5-day watercolor class, and I was hooked by the end of the week! During the time I counseled children, I provided them with many art supplies to help them express feelings and describe ideas.

Over time, I realized that art was a calling! I slowly transitioned from school psychologist to artist, and I now teach small groups of artists. I especially enjoy working with adult beginning learners. I truly believe that if I could learn to paint in mid-life, everyone can! It takes hard work and motivation, but it’s worth the journey!

Much of my work is focused on figures and loose portraiture, but I also have a passion for painting other subjects. Lately, I have been working on a series of raptor paintings. I take the photos myself, and as an avid outdoorswoman and hiker, I have captured some incredible painting references of these birds in the wild.

I started entering competitive shows at a national and international level about 15 years ago and have been fortunate to have been accepted and awarded in several exhibitions. I sell my work from two studio spaces in Scottsdale, AZ, and Kalispell, MT, and occasionally at other venues.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Life as an artist and small business owner has its perks and its challenges. The upside is that anything I do seems to feed my artistic appetite anywhere I go! I constantly observe what and who is around me and consider what might become my next painting. It’s also wonderful to listen to great music and create from my heart and soul daily. I still need to work on structuring my time and separating the “business” end of my career from my drawing and painting time. It is also a constant challenge to say “no” to requests to do things that will take away precious art time. The business of art itself is ever-changing and needs to be evaluated regularly. It’s much more fun to paint than focusing on accounting and scheduling, but its all part of the career.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I am an avid observer of life and am constantly inspired by the world around me. I am best known for intimate portraits of people, but I also enjoy figure work, painting animals, birds and flowers, and occasional landscapes. In recent years, I have also created some abstract work. One painting series I am proudest of involved my meeting with people who live ‘on the street”. My time spent with them often led to a painting created as they modeled for me. I believe that my life was enriched tremendously through this experience, and we formed lasting connections in a few instances. Another series that I continue to develop and enjoy is portraying what I call “the West.” The images range from pow-wows to rodeos to wildlife and lifestyles. I have never mastered a musical instrument. However, I played guitar in my younger years. I am attracted to the passion of musicians who “become one” with their instrument of choice and often paint from the images I capture while they are playing. I have been told that what sets my work apart from others is the feeling that I really “see” the person I portray. I believe this is the result of the time I take to know my models and the joy I feel in trying to reflect who they are in my paintings.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I would suggest two qualities to consider if one is looking for a mentor. The first one is that the mentor must paint in a style that truly speaks to you, and the second is to find a teacher/mentor who can and is willing to teach you the skills you want to acquire. I started painting without knowing that it would become a passion for me. Over time, I recognized what art I most enjoyed and admired and which painting techniques and processes fed my passions. This knowledge led me to many wonderful teachers and mentors who helped to guide my professional development.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.carolmcsweeney.com
• Instagram: carolmcsweeneyart
• Facebook: Carol McSweeney Artist