About My Work
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:
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.
RESUME
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:
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
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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