About Carole Theriault
I’m Carole, a self-taught artist based in Oxford, UK. I’ve been painting seriously for the last five years. My medium of preference is watercolour, though I also dabble with inks and gouache.
My work has an illustrative feel, where I combine bold strokes with fluid etherealish backgrounds to tell a snippet of a story. A lot of the work examines how we humans relate with ourselves, each other, and our natural world, so you will see a lot of skies, trees, all matter of animals, bodies of water, and people.
My work varies widely in size (A6 to A1). Both prints and originals are available. I see my art as an invitation to the viewer to fill in the blanks and take the work to a personal place of meaning. It is a calling card, waiting for that one person who sees a work and feels compelled to tease this narrative thread and finish the story. This is the magic I look for when I share my work with the world….where the art appreciator and the art creator bond through a work.
How I tell my stories
I do this by playing with composition, distorting proportions, flooding with colour, and tweaking perspectives. I think my paintings are impressions and reactions to the world outside and the world within me.
When I am anxious and filled with nervous energy, I tend to create calming scenes inspired by the natural world. But sometimes I need to shake things up. Yucky feelings can fuel work that attempts to capture my perceptions and response to a particular societal or personal tension.
Art Societies and Exhibitions
Oxford Art Society (OAS)
In 2022, one of my paintings was accepted by the Oxford Art Society‘ Open Exhibition (OAS). I entered again in 2023, and another artwork was accepted. I was then invited to apply for membership. I was accepted – woohoo 🙂
Oxfordshire Art Weeks
I also regularly take part in the annual Oxfordshire Art Weeks – where we exhibit our work from a variety of locations around the county. 2024 is my fourth year exhibiting, but my first with the EAST OXFORD ART COLLECTIVE – 10 artists, as well as a robot, pulled together an exhibition at Greyfriar’s church hall off Iffley Road.
Teaching
A few years ago, I took the plunge and started teaching art classes, both in person at local community centres in Oxford and online via Zoom. I will get tush in gear and sort out and advertise the next classes, but please get in touch directly if you would be interested in one-on-one or small-group art classes.
Learning from the Best
Also during the pandemic, I signed up for a week-long tutoring class in Dedham Hall with the master watercolourist Andy Evansen AWS, PAPA, RRWS, TWSA – an incredible experience: I.Learned.So.Much.
In 2023, I signed up for a year-long online mentorship with Thomas W. Schaller AWS NWS TWSA ASAI via Terracotta.art.
Podcasts
Some of you may know me from another main focus, and how I earn my crust. By producing and hosting podcasts.
- Art Musings with co-host Oxford artist Sally-Anne Stewart, where we interview local artists (such as Alex Singleton, Josie Clouting, Emmett Casley, Stacy Spackman, and Tom Croft) about their art, life, and all the things that get in the way;
- Award-winning Smashing Security with co-host Graham Cluley where we take a lighter approach to cybersecurity. We have more than 350 episodes available and have had more than 10 million listens;
- Sticky Pickles, relationship dilemma podcast – my salvation during lockdown – which is now in its third year with more than 110k listens.
Thank you !
Here on Carole.wtf, I share the paintings I like best. If you like something, let me know! It is fascinating to learn what floats people’s boats. And deep thanks for visiting. Means the world.
