Country Artist

Landscape artist paints
from rural Kentucky studio

Self-taught artist finds beauty
in her natural surroundings

By Helen E. McKinney
Contributing Writer

(September 2013) – Although she is proficient in both watercolor and oil painting, Carol Reesor prefers to cover a canvas in oil. And if she can paint on location, that’s even better.

Photo by Emily Ward Carol Reesor of Buffalo, Ky., earned top honors from the Chautauqua judges last year in Fine Art. Carol Reesor Buffalo, Ky. 2012 First Place Fine Art Medium: 2-D Oils, Watercolor Booth No. 921

Reesor favors oil painting because “I learned it first,” she said. “Watercolor is a different medium. It’s my second preference. I love the finished look I get with watercolors.”
Primarily a painter of landscapes, she likes the light and shadow patterns that evolve in her work. “The subject is almost second to that,” said the Buffalo, Ky., resident.
Reesor will be one of many artists participating in the 43rd annual Madison Chautauqua Festival of Art on Sept. 28-29 in Madison, Ind. Last year at the show, she was judged First Place in the Fine Art category. She returns this year and will set up in Booth No. 921 on Broadway Street.
Reesor’s artwork is the result of a combination of classes she has taken and the information she has taught herself. “There is an abundance of excellent instructional DVDs and books out there,” she said.
While still in grade school, Reesor said she “had an older sister who drew horses.” Watching her sister sketch encouraged Reesor to develop her own talent. “I was fascinated with what she did.”
Reesor has studied oil painting techniques under renowned art instructor Scott Christensen. Reesor refers to him as “one of the modern-day masters.”
She admires and has studied watercolor techniques under artist Joseph Zbuckvic. “His style appeals to me,” she said.
Other nationally known artists Reesor has taken classes or seminars with include Tony Couch, Robert Hoffman, Gerald Brommer, Dean Davis, Cheng Khee Chee, Joseph Fettingis and Charles Gruppe. She is constantly learning new techniques and applying them to her own artwork as well as sharing her knowledge with others by teaching workshops on oil painting.
Reesor is a juried member of Oil Painters of America, an organization that includes “a lot of excellent artists in America,” she said. She has displayed her artwork in the organization’s eastern regional show.
She is a juried member of the Kentucky Arts Council’s Visual Arts at the Market and the Central Kentucky Art Guild. Reesor has been an active member of the latter guild since 1995. “I have served as president and chair of many committees. It has been a time of learning and growing as an artist.”
Reesor’s artwork can be found locally at Meridian in Louisville and at Damselfly Studio & Gallery in Midway, Ky. Mary Thoreson, co-owner of Damselfly Studio, said she has carried Reesor’s artwork for the past five years at her gallery.
“I love it. The composition is extraordinary,” Thoreson said. “I love that she can switch from oils to watercolors.”
Damselfly has been located in Midway for nine years and carries artwork by 250 Kentucky artists such as Reesor. The value of her work makes it unique, said Thoreson.
Reesor has some of her work for sale in Split Rock Art Gallery in St. George, Utah. After discovering she had a cousin living in Utah, she visited her and then went back last year with some paintings she placed in a gallery for sale.
Before actually going out West, Reesor said, “I loved the photos I had seen of the West. It’s been a dream of mine to paint out there.”
Many of Reesor’s additional paintings hang in private collections throughout the United States, England, Spain, Italy and Australia. She participates in many regional events, such as the Woodland Art Fair in Lexington, Ky., and the Cincinnati Summer Fair. She has shown her artwork in national shows such as Michigan’s Salon of Traditional Oil Painting.
Reesor will be making her fourth appearance in the Madison Chautauqua. “It’s a beautiful setting. The people are so helpful in setting up the event.”