Anna Carlton
Artist Statement
It is the movement of people and things that console us. If the leaves on the trees didn't move, how sad the trees would be — and so should we! - Degas
The desire to create is a gift. Painting is an expression of my inner self and my reaction to the natural world . It comes from my heart. My art helps satisfy my desire to share cherished places in nature and the inner energy that created them, to give a more intimate view, and to capture a serene, calm image. I usually choose nature’s subjects, I find them perfect and honest designs in themselves with strength and endurance in their continuing existence.
I often start with no image, but with a pour of liquid paint. I am fascinated by the process of water on the paper as the pigments mix and mingle, the interplay of the intended and the random. From there I look for energy and attitudes with color and pattern in mind. Then I complete a drawing using elements from several of my photos in the composition. As my colors flow, I’m ever aware of color theory and the interplay of color in nature. I'm not interested in a perfect bloom or image, but to show a hint of the metamorphosis of an image or reflection. I'm looking for new possibilities in textural qualities, light playing across an image, play of colors and contrasts.
I use strong color. Nature is strong in color, textural content and the unexpected. Removed from nature the images make a strong presence. I especially enjoy playing with the illusion of depth and the subject on paper.
Since 1999, I have been painting on a two-dimensional surface, I have concentrated more on learning the materials, techniques, basic composition, and elements. The instructors I’ve more recently chosen to study with were chosen to assist me in moving to another level and to stir my soul with new techniques and a new view of watermedia. I look forward to expanding my personal boundaries as I work in the future. Skill is an important aspect of my work, but the most vital element is the discovery process.
The object is not to create art, but to be in a state of mind where art is inevitable. That takes concentration and time - Robert Henri
Bio
Anna Carlton -- Color Infused Water-Media
I make my home in Moultrie, Georgia with my husband, attorney John M. Carlton. I received my education at Marymount College, VA, the Universiy of South Florida and the University of Georgia where I received a B.S. in art education in 1968. Over the years I’ve continued my art education at Valdosta State University, Savannah College of Art and Design and numerous workshops including watercolor workshops with Tony Couch, Allan Flattman, Joe McFadden, Joye Moon, Don Andrews, Barbara Nechis, Gerald Brommer, and Pat Weaver.
I have taught art to all ages and in many different situations for 35 years. I've served as visual arts director of the Colquitt County Arts Center, Colquitt County’s system-wide art co-ordinator and teacher and most recently architect and spiritual guide in the development of KALEIDOSCOPE Children's Museum, a project of the Moultrie Service League.
For over 30 years my art was primarily 3-D, creating with clay, papier mache, etc. In 1999, I had several cervical spinal surgeries. Afterwards, I was physically unable to continue the 3-D work. I was more anxious than ever “to do art”. In an effort to find a way to express myself I tried a watercolor class. I fell in love with watercolors and a new way to look at the world. It still hasn’t lost any of the magic.
I've had my work exhibited in numerous group and one-man shows and in local, state and regional exhibitions receiving a number of awards. Most recently I’ve exhibited with the Southern Watercolor Society, Georgia Watercolor Society, and a one-man show at Valdosta’s A .H. Turner Center for the Arts.
Key Exhibits
2007 Valdosta National Exhibit, Univ. of Valdosta, Valdosta, GA
2007 Southern Watercolor Society
2007 TWS Tri-State Exhibit, Tallahassee, FL
2006 Georgia Artists with Disabilities, Atlanta Best in Show Distinguished Merit
2006 Art in Gadsden, Regional Exhibit, Quincy, Florida 1st Place
2006 Georgia Watercolor Society, National Exhibit
2006 Thomasville Regional Summer Showcase
2006 Georgia Artists with Disabilities, Atlanta Best in Show Distinguished Merit
2004 Southern Watercolor Society Juried Exhibit, Fairhope, AL
May 2004 Turner Center for Arts, Valdosta, GA - One man show, "Natural Reflections"
2003 Tallahassee Watercolor Members Juried Exhibit (2001 Honorable Mention) (2001 1st Place)
In the News
Art of Possibilities: Artist transforms a life-changing event into a new medium
By Dean Poling, Valdosta Daily Times
Moultrie artist Anna C. Carlton has only been painting watercolors for a few years, which is a stunning revelation after spending a time viewing her work on display at the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts, but she has been an artist since childhood. A life-changing experience, however, led to her relatively recent discovery of watercolors.
She was the middle child of an artistic family in Dawson, she says. Her mother sculpted. Two of her Mother's siblings were professional artists. Her parents ushered the children to exhibits and concerts throughout the sibling's childhoods.
Beginning with painting lessons as a child, Carlton recalls, art has always been part of her life. As a young adult, she studied art at the University of South Florida and earned a bachelor's degree in art education from the University of Georgia.
Following graduation, she married John M. Carlton Jr., an attorney in Moultrie, where they have lived for many years. She raised two daughters and has taught art in various ways for 35 years. She has continued her art education with classes at Valdosta State University, Savannah College of Art and Design, and in workshops with internationally known watercolor instructors.
For years, Carlton's art was three dimensional pieces. She created baskets and pottery, delved into the rigors of printmaking, sculpted clay and paper-mache, pieced together textured collages.
Then a dramatic event occurred in her life.
About four years ago, Carlton says she had several cervical spinal surgeries. She could no longer teach art in schools. The surgeries left her unable to work in the often physically demanding processes of three-dimensional art.
Yet, art was not just a passing thing for Carlton. Art was an intricate part of her life. An artist is an artist, and Anna Carlton had to create. She tried other forms of art, other ways of expressing herself. This one-time shaper of clay lighted upon one of the most subtle mediums. She discovered watercolor and Carlton immersed herself in studying it.
"The desire to create is a gift," she says, "painting is a statement of my feelings and inner self, my emotions and my soul. It comes from my heart. My art helps satisfy my desire to share cherished places in nature and the inner energy that created them. To give a more intimate view, to capture a serene, calm image."
She studied watercolor with Joe McFadden at the Florida Art Center and Gallery, Havana, Fla. Since, she has studied watercolor from numerous artists and teachers, studying various techniques, finding her own way to express her way in this medium. While finding her way in watercolors, she discovered the colors of nature and devoted herself to panting nature scenes.
In creating a watercolor, she usually starts with a blank paper. Rarely does she sketch an underdrawing on the paper. Instead, she pours the "liquid paint" onto the paper and begins her compositions from this point. "I'm fascinated by the process of water on the paper as the pigments mix and mingle, the interplay of the intended and the random," Carlton notes in an artistic statement.
From various photos, she creates an image she likes. "I'm not interested in a perfect bloom or image, but to show a hint of the metamorphosis of an image or reflection," she says. "I'm looking for new possibilities in textural qualities, light playing across an image, play of colors and contrasts."
In watercolor, Carlton seems to have found her new possibilities as an artist. Her images are bright with colors, deep in complementary contrasts, strong in shape and form. She duly recognizes the proud colors in nature but creates a bloom that reflects her insights. As a youngster and a young artist, Carlton says, she usually worked from memory and her imagination. Now, she more often uses reference materials in creating her images, but her years of using imagination and memory give these newer works an intriguing twist in nuance and design.
Carlton, who has returned to teaching, has learned that an artist is not defined by a medium but rather an artist is defined by the need to create. If a door closes on one medium then an artist seeks out a new medium. In Carlton's watercolors, she has applied herself as if watercolors have been her medium of choice for a lifetime rather than the brief term of a few years.