Active in the Galleries

North Gallery
Works by Carol Cooley
On display through July 1

Meet artist Carol Cooley on Monday, June 25 from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Featured: Summer Towhee

I am passionate about life and my work revolves around natural subjects—birds, animals, people, and cultural subjects. I work from personal photographs, and my media include oil, watercolor, and acrylic paints, pastel chalk, and various forms of printmaking. I photograph birds and love to paint avian subjects in all their regal beauty. As Georgia O’Keeffe put it, “I paint my flowers large in order for people to notice them and marvel at their colors and expressions.” I feel that way about birds.

I taught art in public schools for 19 years. During my years of teaching I showed students’ work in school displays, libraries, and even in a grocery store. I had an Art Club for my students where we explored many kinds of mediums. While working, I used summer vacations to take classes at local venues and community college.

Since retirement I enjoy working on various types of studio art, through clubs and venues, and as a student at large at Governor’s State. I am an active member of the Nature Artist Guild of the Morton Arboretum and the Plainfield Art League. One of my paintings was selected for the 2018 “Best of the Best” Show at Wheaton College, a collection of elected pieces by 12 West Suburban Art Leagues. I am an avid bird viewer and member of the Will County Chapter of Illinois Audubon Society, where I participate in our annual Bird Photograph Showings.

I love to travel, and have visited Ecuador, Peru, Jordan, Israel, and Chile, including Easter Island, as well as numerous states here at home.