Splitting her time between Hawaii and California, Carol Bennett (b. 1954) has mastered the art of capturing movement in her enigmatic paintings.
While Bennett has garnered praise for the meditative sensibility that characterizes her paintings as well as a bold use of bright colors, some of her works are more famous than others. In fact, her “Women in Water” series is perhaps her most well-known collection. As its name implies, the series features women swimming. They’re captured from an underwater perspective, and their faces are either out of frame entirely or obscured by the sun-dappled surface of the water, which serves as a showcase for Bennett’s portrayal of the qualities of sunlight. The upper half of each painting is flecked with the blues and greens of the ocean as well as whatever color the subject’s bathing suit happens to be.
The series originated with Bennett sketching swimmers at an athletic club’s pool in Los Angeles, but as her process evolved, her husband, Wayne Zebzda, began to film the artist on her daily swim on Kauai. The resultant images inform her work, but she doesn’t consider these works to be depictions of her in particular.
“I swim seven days a week, and while I don’t consider them self-portraits, I am the swimmer in the paintings,” Bennett has said.
Given her constant proximity to the ocean, it’s no surprise that Bennett is inspired by water’s glassy properties, citing its presence as both “a mirror and then a window.” Her radiant paintings, whether she’s working with oil and shellac on paper or wood panels, allow her to explore sunlight in such a rich and provocative way that it’s as if she endeavors to suspend rays of light above the water’s surface, making them seem as tangible and physical as the swimmers themselves.
Aside from her works that hang on the walls of galleries and museums around the world, Bennett has also painted murals and even a 48-foot photovoltaic solar canopy for the Hawaii State Art Museum Sculpture Garden.
Find Carol Bennett’s paintings on 1stDibs.
"Lighten Up" a woman in white bathing suit, arms outstretched, drifting
By Carol Bennett
Located in Edgartown, MA
"I throw myself into the water almost every day- it grounds me, the body floats and the mind drifts. The "Swimmer series" has followed me over the years, resurfacing and evolving. Pr...
Canvas, Oil
$3,200
"Winter White" reflective painting of woman in white bathing suit underwater
By Carol Bennett
Located in Edgartown, MA
"I throw myself into the water almost every day- it grounds me, the body floats and the mind drifts. The "Swimmer series" has followed me over the years, resurfacing and evolving. Pr...
Canvas, Oil
"Amy" side profile of a woman with white bathing suit floating up for air
By Carol Bennett
Located in Edgartown, MA
"I throw myself into the water almost every day- it grounds me, the body floats and the mind drifts. The "Swimmer series" has followed me over the years, resurfacing and evolving. Pr...
Canvas, Oil
$2,625
H 48 in W 18 in
Light - Original Oil Painting Figurative Realism Ocean Fish Deep Sea Swimming
By Michelle Fillmore
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Bay Area artist Michelle Fillmore found her love of oil painting at the University of Las Vegas, where she graduated with a BA in Painting and Drawin...
Canvas, Oil
$32,881
H 39.38 in W 35.44 in D 0.04 in
Conosci te stesso? - Oil Paint by Marco Fariello - 2022
By Marco Fariello
Located in Roma, IT
Oil on canvas realized by Marco Fariello in 2022. Certificate of authentivity by the Artist. Excellent condition. Do you know yourself? This painting takes place around this the...
Canvas, Oil
$4,050
H 22 in W 15 in
Ghost Girl Oil Painting on Canvas, Contemporary, Signed, 22x15 Inches
By Carolyn Schlam
Located in Milwaukee, WI
A signed oil painting representing the portrait of a ghostly woman. Contemporary painting. Height 22" x 15" Length
Oil, Canvas
$8,220
H 19.69 in W 27.56 in D 0.79 in
THE SHADOW II - Contemporary Figurative Oil Painting, Women's Portrait
By Jarek Puczel
Located in Hallein, AT
The Polish artist Jarek Puczel catches the calmness of apparently simple and unspectacular situations with an impressive modesty and apparent ease. He creates an interesting and tens...
Canvas, Oil
$3,200
H 30 in W 36 in D 1.5 in
Howdi Do - by Marc Zimmerman - Figures Landscape Art
By Marc Zimmerman
Located in Carmel, CA
Howdi Do - by Marc Zimmerman - Figures Landscape Art This masterpiece is exhibited in the Zimmerman Gallery, Carmel CA. ABOUT THE ARTIST Marc Zimmerman is a visionary artist whose c...
Canvas, Oil
$850
H 14 in W 11 in D 1.5 in
Happiness Is... a Merle Dane, Contemporary Oil on Canvas, 14" x 11"
By Alyson Kinkade
Located in Loveland, CO
Original Oil "Happiness Is... a Merle Dane" Canvas is gallery wrapped with black sides, perfect as is, or easy to frame. 14" x 11" oil on canvas 'I painted all of my dane's siblings, this one was Maya, so distinguished and beautiful' - AK ABOUT THE ARTIST: Since graduating from the Kansas City Art Institute in 1999, Alyson Kinkade’s artwork has been widely collected and exhibited throughout the U.S. Her work is displayed publicly in the permanent collections of the cities of Little Rock, AR; Downey, CA; Paramount, CA; Loveland, CO; Platte River...
Canvas, Oil
The Bather, Classic 1982 oil on canvas, 50x50"
By Ceravolo
Located in Southampton, NY
Classic 80's Fine Art! This painting was used in the advertising for the United States tour of Ceravolo's one man show! New York art Critic Malcolm Preston wrote of Ceravolo's pa...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
Siesta with a Friend. oil paining
By Roxana Khonkulova
Located in Zofingen, AG
"Siesta with a Friend" embodies the essence of relaxation on a clear day, evoking the ambiance of a countryside retreat. This artwork celebrates the simple joys of leisure, allowin...
Canvas, Oil
Self Portrait (Red Hand) By Billy Childish
By Billy Childish
Located in Dubai, Dubai
Self Portrait (Red Hand) By Billy Childish Billy Childish is a British artist, poet, and musician whose raw, expressive paintings and prolific writings reflect themes of authentic...
Canvas, Oil, Board
$5,488
H 27.5 in W 19.5 in D 2 in
Painting Study on Canvas of Street in City of Bath, with Figures & Cafes, 2007
By Angela Wakefield
Located in Preston, GB
Painting Study on Canvas of Street in City of Bath, with Figures & Cafes, 2007 Bath Café Street Art measures 19.5 x 27.5 inches An original urban landscape study painted by Br...
Gesso, Paint, Varnish, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic, Canvas, Cotton Canvas
Hot Dreams
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Alison Hyman’s oil painting “Hot Dreams” is a powerful exploration of intimacy, vulnerability, and subconscious desire, rendered in a luminous palette of fiery reds, oranges, and och...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
Scent of Healing. oil paining
By Roxana Khonkulova
Located in Zofingen, AG
"Scent of Healing" explores the profound journey towards personal harmony and the anticipation of beautiful experiences. This artwork captures the essence of finding inner peace and...
Canvas, Oil