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Produced By Jennifer Cushman •
Photography by Borella & Company
ARTIST’S PROFILE
 Carol Owen has been a studio artist for more than 30
years. Originally a weaver and papermaker, she gravitated to collage and
assemblage early in her career. She became inspired by house shapes after
learning that families in Thailand often erect a model house on a pole before
building their own homes. Known as “spirit houses,” the shrines are deeply
embedded in Thai culture. Carol lives in North Carolina. Her work and research
led her to write Crafting Personal Shrines, published by Lark Books.
WINTER WONDERLAND
Artist Carol Owen has explored house imagery in
her mixed-media work for the past 15 years. She never tires of creating simple
squares topped by triangles. “The shape is universal, tapping into our basic
human need for shelter and family,” she says. (a) Carol sculpted this trio
from foam board covered in Japanese rice paper. Acrylic paint, rubber-stamped
images, and found objects complete the wintry scene. source Winter Tree stamp,
Judikins Inc., judikins.com.
FAMILY STYLE
(b) Vintage images are a focus of Carol’s work. She
sometimes tears photos, painting the edges for a faux burned look. Tiny pearl
buttons surrounding the baby are a visual reference to her family’s heritage of
working in the New York garment industry at the turn of the 20th century. (c) Plastic trim, bought at the local craft store, imbues a roof with an icy
feel. (d) Carol relies on ephemera and often includes dictionary entries,
maps, sheet music, and snippets from old letters. Tiny children’s blocks spell
out the winter theme. “I know vintage is in right now, but I’ve been making this
kind of art for a long time. It’s meaningful to me because my shrines tell
family stories.” source Rubber stamps, Paperbag Studios, paperbagstudios.com.
CAROL’S TOP TIPS
Always follow your heart when making art. To have an authentic voice,
you must create work that speaks to you.
As a finishing technique, apply
gold or silver leaf to your edges. It can really help make your artwork
pop.
I use Golden’s Acrylic Glazing Liquid over everything. It seals the
edges and integrates the images into the work.
Be on a constant lookout
for images and ideas. I have four file folders stuffed with magazine clippings
and photos. They provide endless sparks of creativity.
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