Carol Dalton
Carol Dalton in her studio.
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My search for ways to say what I feel about nature continues in my painting. I walk most mornings along the Carquinez Strait, the narrow waterway connecting the San Francisco Bay with the Sierra watershed. I see patterns on the water made by wind, slow moving at times with light dancing on the surface. Textures contrasting along the stoney shore. Colors change seasonally from green to gold on nearby hills. In addition to my Benicia walks, I have begun hiking all around the Bay Area in the foothills and along the coast.
When I paint, I will often focus on one or two elements and merge them together simply. I want the viewer to “feel the painting,” to be energized by the movement of pattern, the sensuality of textures, and colors distilled with subtle power. Nature inspires me and informs my work. I am grateful to be replenished by my surroundings. Carol Dalton grew up in Southern California, exploring ocean life and the coastal foothills before enrolling in The Santa Barbara Art Institute, a part of Brooks Institute. She majored in painting from 1971-1974 and also studied printmaking and ceramics. Her exposure to nature has had a lasting effect on the artist. Her work is lyrical and poetic, becoming more nuanced over time, reflecting her quiet yet emotional connection to the environment. Natural colors, patterns, reflections, and texture inform her work. Carol builds up her paintings on wood panels with layers of paper and water based paints, scraping, sanding, marking, until distilled with a powerful presence. Carol lives in Benicia California, and maintains her studio along the Carquinez Strait. |