It’s a wonderful thing to be moved by a work of art. As I’ve gotten older, and graduated from the Andy Warhol quotes and “Keep Calm and Carry On” posters of dorm days past, I find myself gravitating towards abstract and organic paintings that elicit a mode or a feeling.
So naturally, Caroline Oliver’s works quickly caught my eye. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the artist, whose wonderfully layered and emotive works have more of an LA cool vibe, calls Texas home, so I set out to learn more about the creative Dallas dweller. Here, Oliver shares her thoughts on Texas, pursuing the fine art profession, and her extremely personal exhibit, “Acid Rain,” currently being shown at WAAS Gallery through Saturday.
What initially inspired you to pursue painting as your career?
Painting presents a challenge that I thoroughly enjoy while also allowing me to confront insecurities through the process of making a problem, compositionally, for myself and then working the paint “in and out” of the canvas, living with it and laboring over it until the composition successfully emerges. Going out on the limb of being a fine artist is good for my soul and affirms my strength to myself. I feel that I can also give to others through painting.
I love the look of your oil paintings featured in the “Acid Rain” exhibit. They’re so wonderfully textured and detailed. How did you arrive at that particular style?
I want my paintings to have both gentle and aggressive elements- areas of tranquility mixed with moments of force. Above all, I aspire for my work to be organic yet have palpable intention. My paintings used to, generally, be thick with layers of brightly colored paint. I would scrape away at the layers and work the painting into its finished composition. I still work the paint ‘in and out’ but now most of my paintings are thinner, washes of neutrals and subdued color, with pops of intense color.
I know you have a very personal connection to the show’s title. Would you mind explaining that a bit? With my painting style right now, I love to give soft blurs of color a defined, sharp edge; my paintings are filled with vertical and horizontal lines and drips of paint. The lines and drips are reminiscent of one of my absolute favorite things in life, rain. On a deeper level, I chose the title because I have been going through very stripping, painful changes in the past few years. The afflictions and sobering realizations continually washed over me and, as acid rain erodes away the surfaces of rock, I’m being forced to let go of emotional and psychological crutches and be refined into the person I’m meant to be. If anything, I want my work to express cleansing and hope.
What’s next for you after “Acid Rain”?
I am extremely honored to be able to show my work throughout our city of Dallas and in Houston. I’m working on my next goal of having my work in Los Angeles, as well, because I feel my painting style would be a good fit in the L.A. art scene.
