CARRIE WHITNEY - ART WARRIOR
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About My Work

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 I tried really hard not to be an “artist” but for over 30 years, but she keeps finding me. I am pulled to chronicle in oil paint the human condition. Like a superhero monk, I ritualistically paint the figure, trying to capture life’s fascinating fleeting moments before they escape me. I am fascinated by what people are doing now, but I work like old technology.

I tirelessly ebb and flow, with and against time, but like children who grow too fast these moments pass faster than I can apprehend. So in warrior-like fashion, I cherry pick the gems to savor. Like any good hero, I am torn and exhilarated by my unrealistic hope, that I can stop time and capture for you a gesture that is relatable. A moment that sparks a reaction for you of something that we might have in common; trigger an exchange about a time you remember and/or connect to the actions you take now. 


About Carrie: 
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Carrie was born and raised in Rural Burns, Oregon and is primarily a figurative oil painter. Carrie is a traveler and recently returned from living three years in Nigeria and spent time traveling through South Africa, France, Italy, The Netherlands, and Thailand. Currently, she lives on Whidbey Island raising her two children, teaching art and spending time in the studio at Blue School Arts.
 
Growing up in a blue-collar town, she took an unexpected turn when she chose to be an artist. With divided passions for theater and painting, Carrie earned two bachelors degrees, one in painting and one in Theater arts at the University of Washington. Feeding both passions, she worked as an independent contractor in set shops and costume shops as a costume assistant, milliner, craftsperson, props technician and various other design components for companies like Utah Shakespeare Festival, Seattle Repertory Theater, Seattle Opera, and Pacific Northwest Ballet.  Carrie also worked for a landscape design company before deciding to get her Master’s in Teaching to become a full-time art teacher.
Carrie has worked hard to create balance between her passion for fine arts and supporting her family. She feels it is important to set an example for her students and two children. In doing so, she has become a strong advocate for Arts education and has recently taken on some social justice issues. She feels that many artists are often on the front lines of social change. They understand process and know what kind of resilience and sacrifice it takes to make change. 
 
Through influences of theater and fine arts, Carrie has a refined appreciation for the subtle subtext of the human condition. Recently, animals, children and nature have held her attention in subject matter and in life. Young children are so patently honest in the way they see the world. In her paintings she captures through color and shape, a mood or feeling that is expressed by the gesture of the body rather than portraying a literal depiction of a person. Her belief is that people communicate more about who they are and how they actually feel with the movements of their body rather than what they say.
 
Spending significant time in other places profoundly influenced her perceptions of the world, and (just as importantly) perceptions of color. Cars were pink and bright green. Monks wore bright orange rich colors. The water was aqua, viridian, teal and cobalt blue. The temples adorned in gold and deep reds and purples; each country has its own color palette. This permission to use color combined with a Rothko-esque washes of color allows the color to create and enhance the mood and story as much as the subject matter.
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RESUME
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Carrie Whitney   
carriewhitney17@gmail.com
(360)-969-6212
Insta: carriewhitneyart
Representation: Blue School Arts http://blueschoolarts.com

​Education
 
2017               Creative Facilitation Training, Seattle WA
2016/2015     Life Drawing: WIFA Whidbey Island Fine Arts Studio, Langley, WA
2015               SAM Educator series: Cultural inclusion in the arts, Seattle, WA
2014               Arts Economic impact Organizer, based on America for the Arts Non-Profit Economic Prosperity model, Langley, WA
2013               Venetian Mask making and history class ,      Venice, Italy 
2012               AISA Conference representative, Story telling and writing through visual Arts,         Johannesburg, South Africa                                                              
2010              Community Arts Consortium, Integrating Arts into all content areas,    Langley, WA                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

2006              Master in Teaching (4.0 GPA), Seattle University,                          Seattle, WA    
                                    Secondary Education Art, Drama, English
 
2002              Bachelor of Fine Arts, Painting, University of Washington,           Seattle, WA
                        Bachelor of Arts, University of Washington, Drama
                        Study Abroad Studio Art program in Italy
            
Selected exhibitions:
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2022            “Good Vibes Many Tribes” Multi-media production,       Kailua, HI,                  Group show
 
2021             “Twisted Twins: A Curio of Animals” Blue School Arts,   Clinton, WA, 
                                                      -Show with fellow artist and twin Connie Robbins            Two Show

2020            “Blueschool Arts Featured Artists” ,Bayview Front Room, Langley, WA,          Group show 
 
2019             “Fresh Paint” Froggwell Cultural Institute Annual Invitational, Freeland, WA    Group show
                       Solo Show “Strong Women Series,” The Bistro,  Langley, WA                           Solo Show
                      "Our-topia" Cherry Street Coffee House,              Seattle, WA                            Group Show 
 
2018               Whidbey Island Working Artists Open studio tour  
 
2017               Froggwell Cultural Institute, Forgery Show,          Freeland, WA,                       Group Show
                       Whidbey Working Artists Open studio tour 
                      “Rags, Rubbish, and Refuse: Artists Who like to get Dirty” recycled art show, The Front Room, Bayview WA, Group show
 
2016               “The Figure” Brackenwood Gallery,                         Langley, WA,                      Group Show
                       “Bestiary” Brackenwood Gallery,                              Langley, WA,                      Group Show
                        Spring Cleaning Studio Sale, Blueschool Arts,       Clinton WA,                        Group show
 
2015              “Cruel Harvest” Brackenwood Gallery,                     Langley, WA                       Group Show
                        Froggwell Cultural Institute, Forgery Show,           Freeland, WA,                     Group Show
                        Whidbey Working Artists Open studio tour
                        Spring Art Show, Blue School Arts,                         Clinton, WA,                        Group Show
 
2014               Solo Show, “Pieces of Life”, Brackenwood Gallery, Langley, WA                       Solo Show
                      “Intimacy” Brackenwood Gallery,                              Langley, WA,                       Group Show
 
2013              “Art Noir” WICA,                                                          Langley, WA,                       Group Show
                      “Small Treasures” Brackenwood Gallery,                  Langley, WA,                      Group Show 
2011                Froggwell Cultural Institute, Forgery Show,            Freeland, WA,                     Group Show
2008              Solo Show “Nature and Nurture”, Bayview Gallery, Langley, WA                      Solo Show
2004             Performance art/ director, “Reversals” Experimental Theater, Cabaret Theater, Seattle, WA
2002            “Cultural Colors” Art collective Group Visual art Show, Rome, Italy
                       Graduate showcase in painting Jacob Lawrence Gallery, Seattle, WA
1998               Ritual poetic drama, Installation/performance Reconciliation Project, Seattle, WA, Group project
 
Recent Commissions:
2022              3 Animal Paintings, Private Patron                                           Whidbey Island,WA
                       2 Animal Paintings, Private Patron                                           Seattle, WA
                       Animal Painting, Private Patron                                                Las Vegas, NV
2021               4 Animal paintings, (family grouping)                                      CT, WA, Maine 
2021               2 animal Paintings, Private Patron                                            Boise, ID
2021               Memorial portrait, Private Patron                                             Pullman, WA
2018               Mural for Island Shakespeare Festival                                     Whidbey Island, WA
2016               Painting, Private Patron                                                              Mill Creek, WA
2016               Painting, Private Patron                                                              Burns. OR
2015               Painting and artwork consultation for new health clinic       Langley, WA
2014               Poster design, Idaho Community Theater                               Boise. ID
2013               Portrait painting, Private Patron                                                Langley, WA
2010               Portrait painting, Private Patron                                               New Hampshire
 
Accomplishments and awards:
2017               Published in book “Artists of Whidbey Island- Vision-Space-Work-Resolution” by Don Wodjenski
 
2009-2010   “Project Me” Grant to teach “at risk” teens life skills through bookbinding and journaling 
                       “Seeds of Compassion” grant coordinating a trip to see the Dalai Lama 
                       “Garden to Groceries” grant combining Arts and service learning with local food bank
2008-2009   Teacher of the Year                                                                                                              
                        Outstanding Teacher by Rotary International Service Organization
2006               Director/artistic Designer, Mae West Fest, collaborative theater
2005               Performance artist, writer, designer Women’s collective for original performance works
2002               Graduate showcase in painting Jacob Lawrence Gallery, Seattle, WA
                        Beth Malmo Scholarship   Academic Achievement Scholarship
                        Graduate costume design work “Machinal” Penthouse Theater, Seattle
                        Directed “Corpse”  Mary Gates Scholarship Project, ECT Theater, Seattle 
                                                                                                
Volunteer and teaching work:
2006/Current        Visual Arts Teacher and tutor (15 years)
2016                         WOW, Women of Whidbey, Speaker for the arts, Langley, WA
                                 Figure drawing classes, Blue School Arts, Clinton, WA
2015-2014               Y-WE SPEAK, Young women empowered collaboration with Repertory Theater, Seattle, WA
2015-2013               Island Shakespeare Festival Board Member, Langley, WA 
2010/2013              Costume designer/Actor, Whidbey Island Community Arts, Langley, WA 2010    
                                 Set designer/director assistant, Whidbey Children’s Theater, Langley, WA

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In Studio at Blue School Arts Interviewing for local artist feature.
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My daughter and I in the studio working on some studies

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