Hi to the World of Pet Owners and Lovers of the World of Art
Carol Parker was born in Healesville, Victoria in 1953. In 1957 her family moved to Warrion, near Colac, in the Western District of Victoria, Australia. It was during thirteen formative years of being surrounded by some of the most attractive and scenic volcanic hills of Warrion and Alvie area, that her skill and appreciation of art at Alvie Consolidated School was unfolding and Carol soon developed a real love of and zeal for sketching. She began with the simpler art of cartoon characters, gradually improving her self-taught skills and progressing to more difficult subjects. She could feel the energy to paint flowing through her and craved to express and release this enery on pad, paper, canvas - whatever she could get hold of at this younger time in her life.
Carol's secondary education was at Colac High School and she excelled in the art area throughout her school years. Carol finished schooling after completing and passing her Year 11 exams in 1969.
Although Carol has never had any formal training in art, she is well known in both Sale, East Gippsland, Victoria and Colac for her black and white ink drawings of many of the Historical Buildings and landmarks in these areas. These drawings have been reproduced in Limited Edition Calendars, Greeting Cards, Placemats and Fridge Magnets etc.
Carol Parker was born in Healesville, Victoria in 1953. In 1957 her family moved to Warrion, near Colac, in the Western District of Victoria, Australia. It was during thirteen formative years of being surrounded by some of the most attractive and scenic volcanic hills of Warrion and Alvie area, that her skill and appreciation of art at Alvie Consolidated School was unfolding and Carol soon developed a real love of and zeal for sketching. She began with the simpler art of cartoon characters, gradually improving her self-taught skills and progressing to more difficult subjects. She could feel the energy to paint flowing through her and craved to express and release this enery on pad, paper, canvas - whatever she could get hold of at this younger time in her life.
Carol's secondary education was at Colac High School and she excelled in the art area throughout her school years. Carol finished schooling after completing and passing her Year 11 exams in 1969.
Although Carol has never had any formal training in art, she is well known in both Sale, East Gippsland, Victoria and Colac for her black and white ink drawings of many of the Historical Buildings and landmarks in these areas. These drawings have been reproduced in Limited Edition Calendars, Greeting Cards, Placemats and Fridge Magnets etc.
"Proudly Colac-Otway Shire"
City by the Lake - Gateway to the Otways
OUR SISTER CITY
WALKER
Michigan, U.S.A.
City by the Lake - Gateway to the Otways
OUR SISTER CITY
WALKER
Michigan, U.S.A.
Carol's book (titled above) depicting Text and Drawings of Colac's Historical Buildings has been in print since 1994 and is still available through Carol. This book has been readily accepted as a tourist gift for overseas travellers and Exchange Students to and from the Colac area.
Carol has a deep love for the history of this beautiful country, Australia, the magnificence of the many and varied landscapes, seascapes and all native flora and fauna. Over the next years of her life she hopes to capture the warmth and beauty of much of our blessed Heritage in a variety of mixed media. She has delighted in selling many pieces of her artworks either privately or through local Galleries. She has also been known for donating her artworks to several Charitable Fundraising Events.
Carol's work has been exhibited by the Commonwealth Bank, her local City Council and varying local Art Galleries. Her work has been respected by her fellow artists. For some years she was commissioned by many businesses to fulfill their Graphic Art requirements for Business Cards, Brochures and Real Estate property and stock sales..Three local businesses have purchased sets of Colac Historical Buildings Prints from Carol, which are displayed with pride for all to see as they enter each venue.
This work has also extended to the private sector with the commissioning of family homes as a splendid, alternative gift idea and has proven to be a very well received and popular idea over the past fifteen years. Many walls, locally and internationally are also graced with family homes drawn by Carol.
Carol has captured much of the Australian Landscape in Oil and Acrylic, giving her much pleasure. She has a deep love of all things in nature, but feels a special rapore with the ever beautiful and majestic native gum trees sweeping this lucky country. She loves painting treescapes. They are all so individual and express such a real sense of this individuality, so full of their very own character, with every twisted and knotted branch weaving in and out and in between the many branches and twigs. Then there are others standing so straight and tall, like 'best dressed soldiers' as they reach to the heavens with such strength, 'gutso' and dignity.
To be able to capture just even a little piece of this magnificent character - to capture this beauty on a canvas is one of the most exhilirating, fulfilling and soul satisfying experiences - we artists are so truly blessed!!
To smell the bush, the air, listen to the birds! I thank you God for just a little piece of this talent.
Carol has recently completed a canvas of a very 'different nature' to what is known as her 'normal' realistic style.
She has captured 'Lake Colac in drought' backed by the picturesque Warrion Hills and Internatinally known volcanic 'Red Rock Crater Lakes' with evening sunset lighting the water. Sweeping gently from the lowering lake waters and parched land are softened 'swirls of a spiritual essence' reaching to the clouds carrying with them an 'image' of a small Indegineous face. The lake foreshore depicts the relics of an old wooden boat that has surfaced from the thirstiness of the waters. The 'swirl of spiritual Indeginous' inspiration and link came from the locals finding many Indegineous artifacts, which have been respectfully left undisturbed on the dried lake bed from the many centuries of long ago when this mighty water hole was once their fising bowl and this same land was trudged and hunted for food and recreation in the 'dry' time. She has this respected sense of 'They Were....and They Are...' which she has so appropriately titled this lovely thought provoking piece of artwork. Many have admired this piece as very different and very interesting!
......Now to the Subject of ANIMALS.........
Carol adores painting animals from the wild, no matter what part of the world they come from. She has completed an adorable mural of jungle animals, capturing the very essence of their mood and thought etched into each individual mind. It is a brilliant piece of work!
FAMILY PETS have also been one of the most adorable part of Carol's Art Journey, having been commissioned for several of these also as a great gift idea. Carol will attempt to draw or paint any pet, preferring a good quality photo, for the obvious reason of stillness!
Carol's recent specialty has been dogs! Carol says all pets are gorgeous in their own way, but she really 'digs' dogs, such variety, size and colour. The challenge of capturing their cute, coy stern or cheeky nature and the expression in their eyes is the most beautiful and enjoyable aspect of the painting. She truly believes the 'beauty' of all pets is in 'the eye of the beholder' and to have the talent to portray this is a God-given gift of which she is very thankful. Carol's "Pet Portraits" have all been magnificently beautiful and have brought great joy and pleasure to both owner and artist!!
Carol is known by her maiden name in the 'Art World' and bears her signature 'Carol Parker' on all of her Artworks.
Carol is known as 'Carol Smit' in all other aspects of her life she happily shares with her husband, Ike, residing in Colac - 'The City by The Lake.' They have eight adult age children between them and enjoy travelling and taking in the natural beauty of the differing areas when visiting family.
Carol's other hobbies and interests include sewing, knitting, gardening, writing verse, bush walking, photography, picnics, fishing, exploring extinct volcanic hills, research of health and body / brain functions both holistically and medically, especially in the area of Mental Illness, helping others - offering a hand, music and quiet times reflecting.
Carol is currently in the process of establishing an 'Ian Parker Bipolar Research Foundation' which has been registered in memory of her only sibling, her beloved brother Ian, who sadly lost his fight with Bipolar Disorder in August, 2005. The final launch of this Foundation will be publicly announced when completed.
Carol has a dream to contribute some of her artworks to be auctioned as a fundraiser for this
Research Foundation. Possibly there will be others she may meet along her journey of life who may also want to contribute art for this same cause.
For a 'sneak' preview of photos of Ian & 'unfinished' blog: http://ianparkermemoirs.blogspot.com
Carol may be contacted via email address
Carol may be contacted via email address
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