Facility and imagination

My name is Cicely Carew. I am a 24-year-old California native. I began my studies of painting in 2001 at the M a s s a c h u s e t t s College of Art in Boston and earned my BFA. During my time studing at M a s s a c h u s e t t s College of Art, I participated in juried group exhibitions and earned various honors in my painting and drawing studio courses as well as 2D-department honors and awards in various juried exhibitions.

I grew up in a household where I was immersed in art from the beginning. The schools that I attended regarded art as a valuable and vital part of society. My influence is derived from predominately-contemporary collections of art. I was not encouraged to ‘color in the lines’. I felt the best about myself when I mimicked Bob Ross on the television with my cousin whom visited from YALE where she studied painting.

I wanted to paint with their facility and imagination. I had developed a relationship and love with color. It all began with green trees and led to layering paint, mixing colors, and to imaginary David Hockney- inspired landscapes and worlds. I was taught that it was okay to explore the depths of my imagination and experiment with an adopted ‘technique’ from the contemporary masters. I would describe my work as arresting, distinctive, vibrant, emotive, architectural, theatrical, and physical. In 2005, I moved to New York, currently teach yoga, and paint in Brooklyn.

My recent participation in exhibitions includes the Smirnoff Studios Gallery (February ’06, Brooklyn) and Fat Baby Gallery VH1-Save the Music Foundation fundraiser (January ’07, Manhattan).