Background

Carol is self-taught and comes from a family of painters.  “My grandmother was an artist that studied with Ben Turner and Carl Von Hassler, so I grew up with many southwestern paintings in the house.”

Carol was born in Wichita, Kansas and was raised in the small prairie town of Belle Plaine.

She developed an early interest in the arts due to the inspiration she received from her mother, Julia Henry Nessly, who worked in watercolors, pastels and mosaics.  Her mother often took Carol with her to painting classes where she got a first hand look at how artists approached life drawing and landscape.  Carol attended Foothill College in Los Altos, California and graduated from The University of New Mexico.

Carol’s watercolors of Taos and other pueblos contrast the old with the new.  For instance, a painting of an ancient pueblo might depict figures of a tourists or a child’s tricycle in the fore-. ground.  She is also known for painting of flowers most notable the hollyhocks of New Mexico.

Gallery Affiliation

Sumner & Dene          Albuquerque    2018 – present

Weems Gallery           Albuquerque    1982 – 2018

Ventana Gallery          Albuquerque    2004 – 2007

Museums/Public Collections

New Mexico State Fair – “Canyon de Chelly” – Permanent collection

Presbyterian Hospital

Presbyterian Hospital Foundation – Daffodil Days

United States Air Force Hospital, Albuquerque

United States Air Force, Veterans Hospital, Albuquerque

Awards and Honors

Posters for: Weems Artfest/Children’s Hospital; New Mexico Arts and Crafts Fair; and PBS Channel 5

Cover Artist for “Take Five” PBS magazine

International Artist Book “Flowers and Gardens” and “My Favorite Subject to Paint”

Masterworks Large Paintings –  First Place Watercolors

Masterworks Miniatures Best of show and First Place