Intense observation and her response to what is around her is how Carole receives her inspiration. The way light hits a countertop or the side of a chair is the spark that gets the painting started. The color of light influences the color of objects and creates interactions between disparate things. Carole’s paintings are about the relationships between these elements. Her imagery is personal; she needs some connection to her subject matter in order for her to claim it in a painting. She works from direct observation; she is very interested in how the human eye perceives the things around us, and how the hand and heart work to put the image down on canvas. It’s a wonderful feeling when the reality of the painting takes on a life of its own and exists on its own, apart from the objects observed. It seems like such a simple thing but there is something magical and transcendent about this aspect of representation that has a very strong power for Carole.