Artist's Statement - Carola Bell 

My life for as long as I can remember has been about dreaming and visioning, and about exploring creative expression whether through writing, painting, drama, conversation, cooking, walking, gardening,  raising children or making friends. I believe that human creativity in a general way, and painting more specifically, starts with seeing and listening, seeing and listening -- with the eyes, the ears, and the heart.

Some time ago I turned from writing and filmmaking to painting. I found the process more immediate, free, and virtually limitless in the possibilities for creative expression. I paint in oil primarily but also watercolor and ocassionally with acrylics. I like oils because of their sensuous, rich, color, hue, and feel. I paint what I see but after the seeing with the eyes I have to "see" on a deeper, more emotional or spiritual level before I feel inspired  to paint.  And though I mighbe inspired to paint a picture by seeing  a stand of trees with the sun-light glancing off golden leaves the final painting might not be one of trees and sunlight at all but an abstract picture of vibrant color shapes, or a completely different  kind of expressionist landscape. But somewhere under the final coat  of paint will be the trees and sunlight I first saw.

Being inspired by a sight or a sound, a thought, or a feeling, inspired enough to want to create something, is nothing more than an open invitation to explore. Explore who we are, why we are, why we see what we see. Explore how we can reach for ever deeper, truer layers of expression is the discipline of our art.

So enjoy.....and.....Viva life! Viva art!!