About

For artist Carol McConnell, finding inspiration to put brush to canvas might be as simple as a walk in the woods and spotting a bird sitting in the bough of a river birch next to a river.  It might be as carefree as watching a sailboat glide through the late afternoon waters of Lake Norman.  Or it could be as mysterious and haunting as a row of ghost trees in silhouette against the backdrop of a sunset along the Cape Fear River.

Nature is key to her artistic process, especially scenes involving water – lakes, streams, rivers, but especially the wide variety of aquatic landscapes along the coast of North Carolina.

“My eye is drawn to water and it’s the lighting that moves me creatively.  I take photos of things that catch my attention as I walk. When going through the photos later, I may look at the scene and spot a small portion where the lighting captures a mood.  That’s the spark that leads me to my studio.  That’s the creative process I love.  It fuels the energy I use in my work.”