Our featured artist for September is Carol Collins, with an exhibit titled: "Eclectic Mix." Featured are more than 20 pieces of art using watercolors, collages, and tissue art.
For Carol Collins, art has always been a part of her life. “I’ve always enjoyed painting, sketching, and doodling,” she says.
Collins studied art as an elective in high school and later took private painting lessons with illustrator Polly Bolian. Carol first met Polly, whose illustrations can be seen on book jackets including Tom Sawyer and the Nancy Drew mystery series, at a watercolor lesson offered at the Halifax Council on Aging. After taking the watercolor class, Collins sought out Polly to ask about private lessons, which she took for two years between 2006 and 2008.
“Polly taught me water color techniques,” Collins says, adding that while much of her style does include watercolor, her work is not restricted to that particular medium. She incorporates micron pen into her watercolor paintings, and enjoys working with collages and tissue as well. Her painting style includes both abstract and realism.
“Sometimes I’ll just start with a line and see where it takes me,” Collins says. Those lines she starts with have led to paintings of cityscapes, architecture, and people.
A lifelong Kingstonian, Collins has run several businesses over the years. She is the former owner of Mainely Bags, an upscale pocketbook and handbag store which she purchased and grew into a three-location venture, and also The Brick House, a locally-based consignment store. Additionally, Collins leads several small prayer groups as a Bible study facilitator.
“I want to thank my neighbor and friend Gayle Metcalf, who encouraged me to pursue having my paintings selected for display at the library,” Collins said.
The library is open Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Major portions of the above were submitted by Carol Collins
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Pictured Above - "Maze" by Carol Collins on display in the Circulation area of the Kingston Public Library
Picture Below - Original images from the Eclectic Mix on the left, center, and right, respectively, at the Kingston Public Library