Women In Art
Carmen Drake
Where do you live and work? I live and work on our farm located in the small town of Carthage, NC. We have 15 acres here at Oak Hollow Farm and Studios, where we remodeled an original 1901 homestead that serves as my studio and a space for hosting workshops with nationally recognized instructors.
What are your favorite subjects to paint? My favorite subjects to paint are currently flowers from my gardens, treasures found in nature, and antiques that I have collected over the years.
How would you describe your style? Classical realism with impressionistic influences. Some of my inspirations come from Emil Carlsen, William Merritt Chase, Henri Fantin-Latour, and Henk Helmantel, just to name a few.
Where did you study art? I was awarded the Special Operations Foundation Scholarship, which allowed me to attend the Academy of Classical Design for three years, and then I studied with Paul S. Brown for three years. I continued my education by taking a series of workshops with other classically trained painters.
What is your proudest art accomplishment? From my earliest memories I have had a love for art and aspired to be a professional artist. However, I spent the majority of my life dedicated to being a military wife and raising children. Through perseverance, I have been able to realize my dream of being a full-time artist, even if it was a little later than my peers.
When you’re not creating art, what else do you enjoy doing? Tending to one of my many gardens; caring for my dogs, ducks, chickens, and goats; or constructing something on our farm.
Where can collectors find your work? Collins Galleries, Orleans, MA; www.carmendrake fi neart.com.
Rose Collins
I live in
