Carolyn has won numerous awards and has had her work juried into many local, regional, and national exhibitions. She has also shown her work in multiple solo and group shows. Most recently:
2026
- Hawaii Watercolor Society Members' Show “99% Transparent” (Exhibition dates are March 3 - March 28, 2026; won Best in Show)
2025
- Top 100 July 2025 PleinAir Salon Art Competition
- Transparent Watercolor Society of America: 2025 Biennial Exhibition
- American Impressionist Society 5th Annual Associate Members Online Exhibition
- Hawaii Watercolor Society 2025 Open Exhibit August 2025 (won Excellence in Watercolor award presented by Bank of Hawaii)
- American Impressionist Society 26th Annual AIS National Juried Exhibition
- The 2025 Hawaii Watercolor Society Members Show (won Juror's Award presented by Alexander and Baldwin)
- American Impressionist Society 9th Annual Impressions: Small Works Showcase 2025
2024
- American Impressionist Society Fifth Annual AIS All Member Online Exhibition 2024
- First Annual American Society of Marine Artists Awards Online Exhibition 2024
- The 2024 Hawaii Watercolor Society Open Exhibition (September 2024)
- American Impressionist Society 4th Annual Associate Member Online Exhibition- (May 2024)
- The 2024 Hawaii Watercolor Society Members Show (won Best in Show)
- First Annual Women in Watercolor Members Only Online International Exhibition 2024
2023
- American Impressionist Society 3rd Annual AIS Associate Members Online Exhibition in 2023
2022
- American Impressionist Society Third Annual AIS All-Member Online Exhibition
- American Impressionist Society Second Annual AIS All-Member Online Exhibition
- Laguna Plein Air Painters Association Second Annual "LPAPA Squared" All-Member Show
Statement
I am passionate about capturing color and life in moments that often go unnoticed. My work focuses on isolating a strong main subject while minimizing the surrounding landscape and background figures, allowing the essence of the scene to shine through. I am drawn to "slice of life" moments that depict everyday people, as well as scenes connected to harbor life—boats, ships, and marinas hold a special place in my heart.
What captivates me most in a scene is the interplay of light—backlight, rim light, spotlight—and the way sunshine can transform an ordinary moment into something beautiful and uplifting. Whether it’s a lone figure or a simple sailboat against the vast sea, I seek to portray these subjects with warmth and vibrancy.
My inspiration comes from lighting, fabric, color, and movement, elements that bring a dynamic energy to my work. I express these qualities through two distinct mediums. In watercolor, I use a glazing technique with delicate layers of transparent colors to create a sense of rounded form and depth. In oil, my brushstrokes are joyful and colorful, working in an impressionistic style that emphasizes the subject's lively spirit.
Through my art, I aim to celebrate the beauty in everyday life, illuminating moments that might otherwise be overlooked and inviting viewers to see the world through a lens of color, light, and movement. From my home in Honolulu, Hawai’i, I am surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, and I am typically on or near the water. I divide my time between boating and painting.