Carole Garland Paintings

"Summer's End" -- As summer still simmers, the signs of it coming to an end are apparent. Children are going back to school and cooler nights approach. In the meantime, sunbathers fi...

California Canyon -- Cheeseboro Canyon in Southern California is a beautiful canyon surrounded by rolling hills and oak savannah. A historic ranch house was burned down in the massiv...

"A Potpourri of Flowers" - A dramatic array of spring blooms, from puffy white hydrangeas and pink-hearted roses to chrysanthemums and mysterious dark leaves, are on striking display...

Burning sun, waves lapping at the shore, the lingering scent of suntan lotion – it’’s an endless summer day at the beach. Carole Garland evokes the heat, wind and sand of a day along the Southern California coast. Swimmers and onlookers cool off in the Pacific waters waiting for the next surge or ripple. Carole Garland graduated from Knox College, Galesburg, Ill., and studied art at the Chicago Art Institute and the University of the Americas in Mexico City. She has worked privately with artists Keith Finch and Ron Pekar, taken numerous workshops and was mentored by fine artist David Gallup...

"September Sunflowers" - A sign that autumn is in the air - the appearance of blooming sunflowers in the garden. The open-faced flowers bring joy, the happy fluttering yellow petals ...

A Mother and her Children. A mother clutches her toddler to her breast and grabs her young son as they make for the shoreline to escape the churning Pacific Ocean waters. Are they ru...

Depicts Carole Garland reveling in a hot summer day at the Venice Beach. Colorful beach umbrellas shield the timid from the burning sun while sunbathers bask in the searing heat. Yellow and blue ribbons floating on the wind celebrate Venice’s chaos and its whimsy. To focus the figure of a preteen who stands sentinel, Garland fades out the foreground sunbather on right and obfuscates the crouching man on left. The artist leads us to the groups of mysterious standing and sitting figures in the shadows and beyond. Garland’s collection of figurative work speaks to a contemporary sensibility in her approach to painting, while expressing a curiosity about the human form and an irrepressible concern for the human spirit. Carole Garland graduated from Knox College, Galesburg, Ill., studied at the Chicago Art Institute and the University of the Americas in Mexico City. She has worked privately with artists Keith Finch and Ron Pekar, taken numerous workshops and was mentored by David Gallup...

It is late afternoon in the rugged Santa Monica Mountains of Southern California as the sun is setting. Long shadows are cast - the chaparral, sagebrush and manzanita catch the glint...

The lemons in this painting play hide and seek with the viewer as artist Carole Garland explores the mysteries of light and shadow. Myriad shades of green, from cold blue emerald to ...

The artist Carole Garland, from Chicago, remembers her move to Los Angeles and her wonder at "Where are all the tall buildings? and Why so much blue sky?" She came to love the City o...

Block Party - Outdoor neighborhood street parties are part of the summer fun in Southern California where neighbors mingle and their children discover new friends. It is a mix of nat...

Beach Girls II - As we wait for summer to arrive we can dream of days at the beach where all are cares are thrown to the wind. The sun roasts us as we relax into the soft sand. But w...

"Happy Daffodils" Daffodils are the harbinger of spring. They peek through the soil in gardens and are tied in bunches in buckets at Trader Joe's. Winter has turned a corner. It is t...

Contemporary Realism

"Glacier" - Part of the Tierra Del Fuego archipelago off the southernmost tip of the South American mainland. The islands adjoin both Argentina and Chile. The beauty and serenity of ...

Contemplation - Young boys enjoy playing in the surf on a warm summer's day in Southern California. The older one, leaning into the sand and letting the ocean waves roll over him, ma...

The artists' enclave of Sa Miguel de Allende provides inspiration at every turn. Here the Orange Wall on a back street of the town serves as a protective barrier to the sheltered hom...

Blushing Roses is a cozy bouquet of roses tucked into a glass vase with dark green foliage to offset their lushness. Their delicate bell-shaped petals seem to be ringing in summer. R...

"Boy with Pails" - A young boy enjoys the rippling waves lapping at his toes as the surf recedes and he pauses to make the most of the moment. He carries pails to bring back water fo...

The beauty of the rich red gerbera daisy is inspiration for this abstracted floral of autumnal colors: cadmium red, golden tan and orange with hints of teal. The flowers seem to floa...

The movement of water, the changing reflections, leaves floating across the surface, the angle of golden light... The artist Carole Garland conveys the childlike wonder and awe she feels as she gazes down at a stream in the woods. The rocks are solid and still as the light begins to fade and different shadows appear. Garland attempts to interpret in her work the calm and serenity evoked by nature. There is a spiritual aspect to her embrace of the natural world. Workshops with Plein Air oil painters Frank...

The beautiful Santa Monica Coastline is cloaked in a foggy mist until the Marine Layer slowly lifts by late morning. Artist Carole Garland captures the moment from the Palisades bluf...

The Ferris Wheel - Summer is here and the amusement ride Pacific Wheel lights up the night sky over the Santa Monica Pier in Southern California. The slow movement of the solar-power...

A grapefruit and an orange brought to life in sublime simplicity in this glowing painting. The artist's touch gives meaning to the pairing as the citrus quietly sit next to each othe...

The sun has set into the Pacific Ocean and the afterglow imbues the Santa Monica neighborhood with a rosy tint. Every surface is transformed by the half-light into a noir painting of...

"Africa Trees" is an oil painting inspired by travel in the Hwang National Park in Zimbabwe, in southern Africa. Close to the edge of the Kalahari Desert, it is the largest national ...

A fresh spring green meadow is dotted with blue bachelor buttons, buttercups and a profusion of prancing white daisies. An abundance of wildflowers in...

Buddhist Monks in Prayer The young monks are bowed in devotional meditation in a Buddhist Prayer Hall. The beautiful harmonized environment and the sacred atmosphere allow serenity a...

A bright colorful umbrella. And three reserved beachgoers who stare at fellow humans scantily dressed in bikinis and speedos. This was the inspiration for the painting. Perhaps not p...

A Sunflower Splash - The bright yellow sunflowers cuddle the dark red chrysanthemum in an embrace as they stand tall in the clear vase, The open faces of the sunny sunflowers are in ...

Attempting to capture the skateboarder in motion.

Happy Bathers - Summertime and the living is easy. Remembrance of days past as we plow through wind, rain or snow. We're not here for a long time, we are here for a good time. The ar...

"In the Pink" The lush, enfolding petals of the pink peony form a round ball that slowly unfurls into an expansive rose-like flowering. These beautiful flowers are so treasured becau...

Solstice Canyon - A rocky creek streams through the woods of Solstice Canyon in Malibu. The quiet shaded glen offers solace to those lucky enough to discover the leaf-strewn path tha...

The Flood - Climate change or global warming and the extreme weather conditions - destructive winds causing infernos, devastating hurricanes and torrential rains contributing to mass...

In one of the most vibrant oil paintings from her “Reflection” series, Carole Garland luxuriates in the splashes of colors, heightening nature’s splendor. Mirrored in the stream, the turning leaves are replicated and abstracted in the shimmering waters below. Workshops with Fine Art oil...

Late afternoon, the long shadows on a city street speak to a day left behind. Carole Garland discovers poetry in paint in this urban, gritty, dusky setting that is drifting into night. What mysteries lie ahead? “Five O’Clock Shadow” is part of Garland’s Urban LA series of paintings. Carole Garland has shown in many Southern California venues, most recently at TAG Gallery, Bergamot Station; realART Gallery, Agoura Hills; the Gallery at West Los Angeles College; Rose Café, Venice; the Santa Paula...

"A Girl and Her Dog" A summer day in the South Bay in SO CAL and a girl and her dog pause for a moment. Fine artist Carole Garland seems attracted by the special bond that develops b...

Descriptive text: Cellophane wrapped orchids caught the eye of artist Carole Garland, and she chose to paint the peekaboo flowers in this abstracted oil painting. This is a new subje...

Carole Garland painted outdoors in the Santa Monica Mountains of Southern California so often that she felt at home creekside or in a wooden glen. In her “Reflection” series, the abstract forms of reflected branches and tree trunks share the composition with solid rocks and trailing leaves. Her use of color is fresh and inspired. Workshops with Plein Air oil painters Frank Serrano...

"Yosemite Reflections" It's a winter's day in Yosemite. A recent snowfall powders the creekside brush, the twigs and the fallen branches. Beyond and out of sight, the stately and towering pine trees cast shimmering reflections and dark shadows. The air is clear and cold and the moment is filled with wonder. Fine artist Carole Garland's Yosemite painting...

The artist Carole Garland is a fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers and so thought a painting of sporting figures in motion would pay tribute. At the s...

Happy times -- nothing more joyful, adventurous or as freeing as jumping into cold lake water on a hot summer's day. Everyone is drenched, shivering, but going back in- one more time. Plugged ears, runny noses, goosebumps and soaked bathing suits - what could be more fun? Hamburgers, hotdogs, potato salad and ice cream await the survivors. Another July day at Moon Lake...

A friend of Carole Garland’s suggested she might be so enthusiastic about painting figures and groups of people because of her previous isolation during Covid. In fact, her one wish when it was over was to sit at a sidewalk café anywhere and people watch. But in this work, there is something more. “Thoughts and Prayers” is a reaction to attending a Bingo fundraiser for a Recovery House. Everyone was enjoying themselves at various tables. It was a benign event, except for the specter of mass shootings in innocent, unsuspecting gatherings like this. In the painting, Garland attempts to convey her feelings of dread at an otherwise boisterous occasion. It was happening everywhere, anywhere, all the time. Carole Garland graduated from Knox College, Galesburg, Ill., studied art at the Chicago Art Institute and the University of the Americas in Mexico City. She has worked privately with artists Keith Finch and Ron Pekar, taken numerous workshops and was mentored by David Gallup...

Everyday life is full of surprises, and artist Carole Garland uncovers and discovers delight in the cellophane wrapped orchids at Trader Joe’s. The cellophane reflects the sunlight ...

In this painting, Artist Carole Garland captures the flower fun, the lavish display of color and the extraordinary beauty of nature. The zinnia is a long-stemmed flower with delicate...

Artist Carole Garland chose to paint the city of Los Angeles, no small task, because so few artists were tackling the sprawling maze of ethnic neighborhoods, spread out suburbia and ...

Roses are Red... Fine artist and oil painter Carole Garland approaches this floral oil painting, a vase of cherry red and gold orange roses, with the desire to bring the delicate flo...

Beach days are magical, and this little girl running and splashing in the surf was relishing her new-found freedom and expressing all the joy to be found on a summer day at the ocean...

From the artist: "Solstice Canyon in the Santa Monica Mountains was a retreat from the hectic pace of urban life. Sitting by the Solstice Creek, my painter friend and I relished the quiet except for the murmur of the stream, water bubbling over stone pebbles...

The young African boy is wearing native Zimbabwean dress to reflect the historic clothing of village life. Carole Garland captures the questioning look of the boy and his wonder why are these visitors here? The colorful burnt red stencils enhance the trim design of his costume. Carole Garland has shown in many Southern California venues, most recently at TAG Gallery, Bergamot Station; realART Gallery, Agoura Hills; West Los Angeles Art Gallery; the Rose Cafe; the Santa Paula...

These two South African schoolgirls were staring at yet another group of well meaning tourists passing through their Zimbabwean grammar school. Carole Garland captures their lingering expressions: Innocence, seemingly open, adventurous and hopeful while the other girl, Patience, is perhaps more skeptical, wondering what these people from the United States are doing in her classroom. To enter their children in school. South African parents must register them with English names so mother and father, who don’t speak English, search through English language newspapers for suitable names, hence, “Innocence” and “Patience.” The tour guide’s name was “Sanction.” Carole Garland graduated from Knox College, Galesburg, Ill., and studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and the University of the Americas in Mexico City. Carole Garland has shown in many Southern California venues, most recently at TAG Gallery, Bergamot Station; RealART Gallery, Agoura Hills; the Santa Paula...

Creekside one can see the rocks, pebbles and leaves at the bottom of the stream or the viewer can observe the water's surface: floating bugs, bubbles, ripples and reflections, but it's difficult to catch the bottom and the surface simultaneously. However, the photographer or artist can capture the stream's surface and pebble strewn bottom at once. Carole Garland set this as her goal in this painting from her "Reflection" series. Carole Garland graduated from Knox College, Galesburg, Ill., and studied art at the Art Institute of Chicago and the University of the Americas in Mexico City. Outdoor workshops with plein air painters Frank Serrano...

Zebras are one of the most interesting and amusing of African animals. They share the genus Equus with horses and donkeys. In a group it is believed their dizzying stripes confuse prey - or perhaps make them dizzy. An artist's delight, zebras' black and white stripes call out to be painted. Taking it a step further, Carole Garland attempts to confuse the viewer with a "Now you see it, now you don't" look at the zebras standing in a streambed in South Africa. Painted in oil on a 30"x40" wood panel, the wood sides serve as a frame around the painting. Carole Garland graduated from Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois and studied art at the Art Institute of Chicago and the University of the Americas in Mexico City. She has worked privately with Keith Finch and Rick Pekar, taken workshops with numerous plein air painters and was mentored by David Gallup...

Carole Garland chooses to refrain from painting sentimental peasant paintings inspired by her travels abroad. Here she departs in a major way. Intrigu...

Poinsettia - As daffodils are the harbinger of spring, so poinsettias herald the holidays. The beautiful bold red "flowers" (bracts) sing Christmas. The popularity of the poinsettia ...

California Sunset - The West Coast enjoys the luxury of the extravagant, dramatic sunsets in hues of vibrant oranges fading to pure yellow diminishing to lavender and traces of lime ...

Bridge Over Ballona - Sunset in the marina turns the Ballona Creek salmon pink, reflecting the soft hues of the evening sky as the sun dips into the Pacific Ocean. The rose-colored s...

Arbor View - Climbing vines wind around the arbor column disappearing into the overhanging leaves as traces of sunlight peak through. The shaded foliage in the foreground contrasts w...

"Girl in the Fountain" Nothing is so joyful as a young girl splashing in a fountain, loving the spray yet ducking it at the same time. As the child kicks her way in the pool, her leg...