Paintings by Carolyn J. Cappello

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Artist Profile

Carolyn J. Cappello is an award-winning botanical, floral and still life watercolor artist. She has been painting since 1986 and is self-taught. She is inspired by the work of noted American artist Georgia O'Keefe and the botanical collections of Dr. Shirley Sherwood. In 1989, she left a career as a health educator to pursue art full time.

Her work has appeared in over 85 juried exhibitions. Over 50 of her paintings are produced as limited edition prints including her Museum Quality Collection and her Premier Edition Botanical Collection. Her New York Publisher Series open edition prints are distributed worldwide. More than 80 of her watercolors are published as fine art note cards and other fine papers. She has completed commissions for Saratoga Horticultural Research Foundation and private collectors.

In November 2006, Carolyn was honored with an invitation from the Hunt Botanical Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, to exhibit two of her paintings in the museum's 12th International Exhibition of Botanical Art & Illustration, 2007-08.

Carolyn is a florilegium artist for Filoli Center, Woodside, CA, a botanical gardens estate and national historic site. Her paintings are among Filoli's permanent, historical collection. Her work has been shown in numerous national and international exhibitions through the American Society of Botanical Artists (ASBA) at the Horticultural Society of New York; Loveland, CO Museum; Triton Museum; Filoli Center; and through national watercolor societies.

In 2002, California Gov. Gray Davis chose one of her California Poppy (state flower) paintings to adorn the Governor's Holiday Gift Ornament. In 1999, she completed a commission from the Governor painting 50 original watercolors of the California Poppy. Each of the botanically rendered paintings is different. The paintings were distributed as gifts to dignitaries during the Governor's 1999 European Trade Mission.

Her work and commentary appear in three editions of "American Artist Watercolor" magazine, and in "Color," a collection of articles on color and color mixing. She is a member of ASBA; a charter member of The National Museum Of Women In The Arts; and a signature member of California Watercolor Association. She earned bachelor's and master's degrees in health science from San Diego State University. After living most of her life in San Diego and the Bay Area, she now makes her home and studio in Lake Wildwood in the Western Sierra Foothills of northern California.

Artist's Statement: "Discovering watercolor painting is one of the most significant events of my life. It is a great joy to be able to capture the beauty of flowers and their delicate colors and structure and to share my love of that beauty with so many wonderful people who have come into my life as a result of my art. I feel a deep and meaningful connection with people and nature through my ability to paint. It is a joy for which I never cease being grateful."

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