Casandra Carmine, New Jersey
Member Since December 2010
Artist Statement I was born in Meridian, Miss. but didn't spend much time there, nor have I put down roots anywhere else. I have lived all around the US, from major cities to small towns. I also spent four years In Garmisch, Germany with my five children and now former husband, in the Military. However, my diversity doesn't end there. I had decided to continue my Education and enrolled at the University of Utah to study Political Science. I had become seriously ill, and was bedridden for several weeks. To relieve the boredom, I began to draw. When I recovered, and re-enrolled at the “U”, this time in the Fine Art’s Program. IN one of my first Art Classes, My Professor said: “Your lines are real aggressive. You should be a cop.”
But I knew where I had been and where I felt I was inspired to go.
In another class as I focused an unwavering gaze on a nude model, “blindly” marking my impressions on the canvas, a transformation from within caught me by surprise. It was as if my Vision had been heightened to a proliferous awareness and sense of the world. I knew I belonged in Art.
Blind Drawing is my favorite method of capturing an image. “Drawing Blind, I find I rely on my intuition. I feel a total freedom and pureness in my expression I feel empathy—a participation or sharing—with the object I’m focused on. I see beauty all around, in a tin can, paint brushes—anything.
I graduated from the “U” in 1990 with a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts with an emphasis on painting and drawing. I have nurtured my involvement in art characteristic diversity, but I have permanently traded in my .45 for a paintbrush.
IN 1988 I began privately selling my work, and continue to do so. In 1990 I participated in the Spring Student Art show and at the Alvin Gittens Gallery. I have done various community volunteer projects such as the mascot illustration work for Bennion Elementary in Salt Lake City, Utah. I have also shown at the Urban Arts Gallery IN Salt Lake City.
I returned to the East Coast after the death of my oldest son Douglas, a US Marine. He had always said " Mom get your art work on the internet"
I took some time away from my art after his death and have returned to my Art continuing my journey.
Seeing the world not just looking.