Gully Gee Studios Spotlight: Carol Randolph
| Waynesburg, Pa. artist helps bring Skyler to life Carol Randolph of Studio R in Waynesburg, Pa. became the equivalent of a Hollywood special effects artist when it came to her contribution to "Skyler C. Gull." When "Skyler C. Gull" author Eric Armstrong needed a special touch with his illustrations, he went |
| to Carol for help. An expert painter, she took Eric's finished drawings and applied shadows, footprints, water effects and other touches. "Carol gave the drawings an amazing quality," Eric said. "With a wave of her magic paintbrush, the sand looked real and the water looked like it could splash off the page." Eric said Carol gave the illustrations a stunning quality by adding such whimsical touches as footprints for Skyler and frothy waves in the ocean. One of his favorite effects was one in which Carol made a bucket appear as if it were underwater. "How I enjoyed working on Eric's book," Carol said. "This work was very enjoyable for me because Eric's drawings were different from anything I had worked on previously. His story is enchanting and the seagull character is drawn simply but with a sweetness that is impossible to ignore. He needed very little help from me actually -- just some tweaking and a little attention to detail, so it was fun." "I am constantly amazed by the effects that paint has on a flat surface," she continued. "The techniques that I have learned or developed combined with the inspiration and the work that goes into a finished piece gives me joy. The teaching of those techniques on to others and seeing their joy and wonder is very satisfying. The greatest pleasure is the shared pleasure of others who see my work." Biography Award-winning artist Carol L. Randolph was born and raised in Elm Grove,W.Va. Her degree from West Virginia University is not in art. She is married and the mother of two grown sons. Beginning her painting later in life, she studied with many recognized artists such as Dorothy Dent, Helan Barrick, Dorothy Egan and Johnnie Liliedahl. She traveled to the Cape Cod School of Art to study landscape with Lois Griffel and portraiture with the Eglie family. More recently, she studied Oriental watercolor and sumi-e with Lian Zhen and with Hye-yong Jang, "The Spirit of Korea," who said that she is "....a very importantstudent who will create excellent Oriental artworks." Carol enjoys using a variety of surfaces, mediums and styles to achieve some of her most interesting works in the subjects of landscapes and seascapes, still life, animals, flowers and portraits. Her primary mediumi s oils, followed by Chinese watercolor and sumi ink (sumi-e), silk dyesand acrylic. She has won awards in both oils and sumi-e. Her work also has been seen where her talent has brought invitations toteach: Utah, Oregon, Washington, Ohio and Pennsylvania and in Calgary,London, Toronto and Niagara Falls, Canada. Represented by several galleries in Pennsylvania, Carol works in her studio in the town of Waynesburg, located in the hills of southwestern Pennsylvania. She sells her work there, paints on commission and teaches. She travels to paint en plein air and to teach and encourage budding talent. Her art is held in private collections in the United States, Canada and Europe. Resume Painting studies Cape Cod School of Art--landscape with Lois Griffel & portraiture with the Egelis--oils--1999 Hye-Yong Jang ("The Spirit of Korea") -- brush painting--Chinese watercolor & sumi ink--2001 Liam Zhen--Oriental brush painting--Chinese watercolor and sumiink--2002 James Sulkowski --still life--oils--2003 Robert Daley-- portraiture--oils--2004 Still life--oils--2005. Catherine Rosensteel--silk painting--2005 Teaching experience:Women's prison in Waynesburg--1980's Teaching in the seminar style in five states and Canada and for Elderhostel--1980's & 1990's The Greene County Craftsman in Waynesburg--1980-1992 Studio R in Waynesburg--1992-2003 Academy of Art in Carmichaels, Pa--2003-2006 McMurray Art League--2005, 2007 Mediums: Primarily oils. Silk dyes. Chinese watercolors and sumi ink. Acrylics, linoleum block printing. Exhibitions and awards: Steubenville Art Association exhibit--Merit Award for Chinese Brush Painting--2002 Waynesburg College annual juried show--2001-2007 3rd Place--Painting--2004 1st place-- oils--2005 3rd placeoils & 2nd place watercolor--2006 Gallery of the Avenues, Pittsburgh, Pa.--2002-2006 Art All Night, Pittsburgh--2002-2003 Paul Harris Fellow--Rotary--2004 S.W. Pa. Council of the Arts--History through Art exhibition--2004 McMurray Art League Shows--2004-2006 One-man shows--South Park Theater, Schoolhouse Arts, Dominion Tower, others--2004--2005 South Arts Annual Juried Shows--2004--Award of Merit. 2005 Second Place Charleroi Art and History Center Annual Juried Show--2005 --2nd Place 2006--2nd place Selected by Azure Interiors to provide 4 pieces of Chinese brushpainting for 2006 Home Show, Pittsburgh, Pa.Art in the Round, Washington, Pa.--Charity event--2005-2006 Framesmith Gallery show--2006 Pieces for Peace and Justice show--2007--Wheeling Jesuit University--1st place painting Best in Show South Arts Gallery shows--2008 Represented by: South Arts Gallery, Bethel Park, Pa. The Art Shoppe gallery, McMurray, Pa. Wheeling Artisan Center, Wheeling, W. Va. Memberships: South Arts. President and Publicity Chairman 2008.Work held in private collections in United States, Canada, Europe. |
| These pages from "Skyler C. Gull" show Carol Randolph's expert touch. Carol added footprints, shadows, and shading that made the illustrations come alive. |