Meet Carol Gove | Fine Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Carol Gove and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Carol, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I was a creative kid that loved working with art materials and getting my hands in them. It is safe to say that I always wanted to be an artist, but I never took the necessary steps to pursue the path formally until later in the game. It didn’t seem like a realistic way to earn a living and honestly, I didn’t know many artists or have a creative community around me to encourage the notion of being an artist. I majored in business administration and marketing in college and am grateful to have fallen into graphic design as a career. I had always dabbled with painting, but it wasn’t until I turned 30 that I made the decision to make the career switch. Perhaps it was a calling or just a deep seeded bud that finally burst open, but I can recall telling myself I didn’t want to wake up at 40, which seemed so old and so far away, not having devoted myself to my fine art. Now at the age of 52, I can say that taking a chance and making that career switch was one of my best decisions. Although I didn’t have formal education in fine art, the skills I learned working in marketing and helping companies promote themselves with branding etc. proved to be invaluable skills for promoting my artwork. I’m not as intimidated by the business end of the art world as some artists might be. My path to becoming a professional artist has been a fruitful marriage of many skills and it feels like it all came together as it should have.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a mixed media collage artist. I enjoy giving new life to older materials, using only a fragment of their original state. When you see my paintings, they feel almost built, with lots of layering and ripping away. I attempt to strike a balance between painterly gesture and the physicality of a pasted collage fragment. I mine a personal and aesthetic history for source material, re-using scraps of old handwritten letters, worn labels, sheet music, sewing patterns, and other memorabilia from my childhood and the lives of family members. I create something new from something old with dialogue between the graphical textures of the found materials and the fluidity and paint.

I think what sets my work apart from others is my use of color and how I create tension, as well as harmony, in my compositions with my color choices. There is a lot of passion in my paintings… you can feel the hand of the artist. For me, it is a great compliment to know that someone enjoys having my work in their home. Although my paintings are primarily non- objective, remnants of imagery appear and disappear as the materials are washed and worn by layers of paint. Often it is my intent to give the viewer a “glimpse” at a recognizable fragment so that they may be reminded of their own memories when looking at my work. It is very rewarding when someone says to me that they can relate to a piece on a personal level.

It took a lot of hard work to get where I am professionally, but I also had the good fortune of meeting people that supported my endeavor and helped make connections for me. This includes art agent and friend, Denise Grant, that who helped me land my first gallery representation back in 2003. I’d also like to give credit to the galleries that have represented my work: Judi Rotenberg and Galerie d’Orsay in Boston, Gebert Contemporary in Scottsdale, Stremmel Gallery in Reno, and online at Abmeyer + Wood. That isn’t to say that I don’t have a folder full of rejection letters from other galleries. I’ve kept those letters and looked through them from time to time. It gives me a sense of accomplishment I kept on going and have since had many successes.

One of my greatest accomplishments was having my work accepted by a 100 year retrospective exhibit “In Context: Collage & Abstraction” at the Pavel Zoubok Gallery in New York. This exhibit included contemporary artists as well as master work by Kurt Schwitters, Robert Motherwell, Lee Krasner and more. It was an honor to have my work on display with these masters.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I moved to Santa Fe a little over three years ago after living in New England my whole life. Santa Fe is a magical place and I often encourage my east coast friends to visit. If my best friend were coming I would definitely expose them to as many art galleries and museums as we could fit in. Canyon Road is an easy mile-long stroll, with more than 100 galleries. The Railyard district also is home to several top notch galleries and a great contemporary museum called SITE Santa Fe. To get some local flavor I recommend going to the artist market in the Railyard, hosted every Saturday. I also love the Botanical Garden near Museum Hill and the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum in town. For a special dinner I would take a friend to Izanami at Ten Thousand Waves Spa and grab a drink outside near the Plaza at the Anasazi bar.

Santa Fe and the surrounding area offers a tremendous amount of natural beauty too. I would encourage a visitor to take a road trip to Abiquiú Lake, Ghost Ranch, and Bandelier National Monument. There is so much to see in and around Santa Fe, a week may not be enough time.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
When I decided to pursue fine art as a career, I enrolled in a mixed media collage class at the DeCordova Museum school in Boston. I was fortunate enough to meet a fabulous teacher (and artist) named Timothy Harney. I had never really met anyone like him. He was tough, direct, passionate, talented and such an inspiration. After one class, I was hooked on my new endeavor. I knew nothing about the art of collage and found the medium to be perfect for me. In a way, it brought together my graphic design skills with my love of combining various materials with paint. Even after 20 years, I can still hear Tim in my head when I am working in my studio…I can recall him saying to the effect: Every decision in a painting matters and none is more important than another. Strive for a marriage of differences in a piece. Be authentic in your work and, if your work is compared to others, just make sure yours is better. Never stop creating.

I would be remiss if I didn’t also mention the role my father had in supporting my path. He was a carpenter and for many years he built my painting panels. I loved that his hands had a part in creating the framework for my work. He attended every art opening I had and would tell my friends how proud he was. He passed away 5 years ago, but I often feel his spirit in the studio with me while I work.

Finally, I also need to give some credit to my studio muse Osiris, a 10 year old rescue tabby cat. Over the last several years when I wasn’t painting, I was volunteering in feline rescue. When Osiris came into my life he was a week-old orphan and he’s been with me ever since. He is the best studio companion you could ask for.

Website: www.carolgove.com

Instagram: @carolgoveart

Other: email info@carolgove.com