Artist of the Month April 2019

Carol Tippit Woolworth

Santa Fe, New Mexico

How and when did you start creating art?

Like most artists I have been creating art my entire life. In fact I just found a drawing when I was 4 years old which my mother had saved in a box. She would save the cardboards in stocking packages of the day, and I would constantly be drawing on those, and anything I could get my hands on. One Christmas when I was around 8 years old, my Grandma sent my sister and I paint-by-numbers kits.  I was hooked. It must have been an oil painting kit because every time I smell linseed oil I’m back painting at the dining room table.

What media and genres do you work in?

I mostly paint with oil paint, and gouache. Lately I have been experimenting with papier mâchè.

Who or what are your influences?

I would say the Bay Area Abstract Figurative Painters are my biggest influences—Richard Diebenkorn, David Park, Elmer Bishoff. I also find Nicolas de Staël, the mid-century French painter, another huge influence. I seem drawn to more pithy kinds of work, with layering and blocks of color and contrast, and minimal detail.

What was your inspiration for The Backstroke?

When I was a kid, an artist couple lived across the street from my family, for whom I babysat. My family had one painting hanging in the living from the Costco of the day. In other words, art was not important in our house. I would go to their home, sit on the couch and look at all of the incredible paintings hanging on the walls, or object d’art sitting on tables, until they returned several hours later.The paintings I remember most were in a series of a woman in a pool. I always remembered that image and vowed to paint something like it one day…which I did. A couple of years ago I found her online and saw the swimming pool paintings I had long admired. They were totally different than the ones from my memory, and still wonderful. These Swimming Pool paintings are my homage to this incredible neighbor, and teacher, across the street.

Describe your creative process?

I am constantly searching for everyday scenes that are a bit on the quirky side, or create some kind of statement.  I then begin taking photographs of these things / places, mulling the ideas around for a while and then diving in.

What are you working on currently?

Right now there is an array of things I’m starting and finishing. I’ve been reworking my swimmer series from 2008, and need to complete the final one. I was curious about what these paintings would be like now, after a 10 year hiatus. Would they have changed at all? Yes, is the answer. My style has become much more abstract. There are also some little hummingbird paintings ready to be finished and sent to the gallery, which represents me. I have a couple of Native American vessel paintings to finish, and one Tiny People painting that’s incomplete. Finally? A shrine I am experimenting with in papier mâchè and Creative Paper Clay and gold leaf.

What are your near/long term goals as an artist?

Since moving to Santa Fe 2.5 years ago I have accomplished one very large goal of getting my work in a Canyon Road Gallery. I have recently signed with another gallery on the Turquoise Trail, which is part of this goal. Mainly I want to continue the journey of painting, constantly honing down my images so that I say the least, while saying the most, if that makes sense. It’s a challenge. And having people ‘get’ something from my work. That means the most.

Where can people view/purchase your work (gallery, website, etc)?

My work can be viewed and purchased on my website www.caroltippitwoolworth.com . Also, in Santa Fe, at Smilow Mathiesen Gallery (www.smilowmathiesen.com ) and The Hat Ranch Gallery (https://www.hatranchgallery.org/ ). I will be part of the Santa Fe Studio Tour the last two weekends in June if anyone is visiting Santa Fe at that time. Also am on the Saatchii Art website, and Artsy Home.