C A R O N
My studio H5 in the Hawthorne Arts Complex, Los Angeles, CA
I grew up in a family of non-artists so when I won first place in a county-wide school art contest at seven, I realized art was to be honored and celebrated. Due to this early exposure of the arts in education, and its impact on me as a shy kid, I value what art can do in bolstering young people's spirits and stoking the imagination.
Art has the power to change perceptions, enrich society and create unity as a universal language across multi-cultures with its varied aesthetics.
In my teens I studied with renowned NY portrait artist Everett Raymond Kinstler, the late Millard Sheets and Leslie B DeMille. Invaluable experiences that connected me to engaging artists, learning their techniques and exposing me to both encouragement and constructive criticism.
I developed my art practice studying at institutions including Scripps College, Claremont and Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. My MFA is in painting and drawing from Claremont Graduate University, CA.
Along with working on commissions and creating work for shows, I spent over a decade as an art professor at local colleges and universities. My artwork is in many public and private collections.
I'm a member of the Los Angeles Arts Association's Gallery 825, Portrait Society of America, National Museum of Women in the Arts, Riverside Community Arts Association, and the Riverside Art Museum, CA.
I live & work in Riverside & Los Angeles, CA
Artist's Statement:
When you do things from the soul you feel a river of joy within you - Rumi
For me, art is a journey of the soul's ever changing expression bringing both joy and sorrow; an interlocking yin & yang swirling. A river of rolling stones. It's not stagnant but fluid; untethered wings of desire, always seeking more. Some artists have a brand as if a repetitive, unchanging signature but my work reflects a multitude of experiences. It is a visual diary where the mediums and subjects often change to best express the sensibilities of my soul. Yet through my metamorphosis of creativity I have two constants: portraiture & abstraction. Two sacred altars. Portraiture is where the tree of my creativity takes root. It is the base power from which I grew when those seeds of love were first planted in my creative conscience and then practice. And in that growth, rocky experiences broke my spirit, tore apart expectations and unraveled what I knew to be true. In those moments of despair abstract expressions unfurled as if wild branches reaching up for a lifeline from my uprooted tree pulling from deep within my soul. Freedom from all rules came in the act of abstraction connecting me to the unseen rather than to the seen. So I nurture my innate fondness for capturing unique visages, utilizing exacting techniques for tangible expressions and then freely embrace the intangible through the spirit of space, shapes and hues. I'm also deeply concerned with our environment, especially the plight of the bees and CCD. So honeycombs and bees are often motifs within my portraiture and abstractions as without the lowly bee we wouldn't have our lofty lives. I bow to the bee...
to view my graduate show Exodus and other earlier works go to: http://carongrand.com
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Education:
Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, CA
MFA, Painting & Drawing, January 2006
Exodus, MFA Exhibit
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, PA, 1995
CBU, Riverside, CA
BA, Fine Art, cum laude, January 1987
Imago Dei, Senior Exhibit
Scripps College, Claremont, CA, 1984
Polytechnic High School, Riverside, CA, 1984
Recipient of the Senior Creative Writing Award
Staff on Tracks, creative writing & art magazine
Employment:
Freelance Artist, including commissioned artwork for public and private collectors, 1987-Present
CBU, Riverside, CA, September 2008-2017
Adjunct Professor for Beginning Drawing & Painting, Intermediate Drawing, Principles of Design, Art Appreciation, and Aesthetics in the Classroom
Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA September 2012-14
Adjunct Professor for Principles of Two-Dimensional Design and Multi-Cultural Art
Azusa Pacific University, Center for Adult and Professional Studies, accelerated courses in Azusa, Orange County, San Diego, Victorville and San Bernardino, CA, March 2008-13
Adjunct Professor for Art/Art History
Clark Cierlak Fine Arts, Sherman Oaks, CA, May 2008-2010
Phone bids for art auction house
Westwood College, Upland, CA, March 2006-2009
Adjunct Professor for Art History, Figure Drawing, Color Theory, Story Boarding, Film & Literature and Gender Communications
Marketing Sales Representative for TJMJ Enterprises, Riverside, CA, 2002-2004
Substitute Teacher for Riverside’s Woodcrest Junior High and High School, 1993-1997
Layout & Production Manager, Graphic Designer, Layout Artist, Artist, and Copywriter for the Advertising Department of Harris’ Company, San Bernardino, CA, 1987-1993
Gallery:
Los Angeles Art Association, Gallery 825, Los Angeles, CA 2016-Present
Art represented at D Gallery, Lake Arrowhead Village, Lake Arrowhead, CA, 2012-13
Book:
The Knitting God and the Invisible Thread, 2011
weaves together art, science and the Bible through an artistic lens available at Amazon
Art Workshops:
Everett Raymond Kinstler, New York
Portrait Society of America, Virginia
The late Millard Sheets, Arizona
Leslie B. DeMille, Arizona
Anthony “Tony” Visco, Pennsylvania
The late Semion, Semion Galleries, Laguna Beach
Don Lagerberg, Figure Symposium, California
Herbert Conrad, California
Nancy Canter, California
Shows:
Group show, Perceive Me, Ronald H. Silverman Fine Arts Gallery, Cal State University Los Angeles 2020
10 pieces of art selected for the 19th International Art Exchange Exhibition & Competition, The National Art Center, Tokyo, Japan 2019
Open Studio Show, Hawthorne Arts Complex, Los Angeles, CA 2019
Woman's group show, Awaken, San Bernardino Art Association, San Bernardino, CA 2019
Group show, The Soul of the Desert, 20 Palms Art Gallery, 29 Palms, CA 2019
Solo Show, Zohar Meditations, Tolerance Education Center, Rancho Mirage, CA 2019
FACETS, group show, MuzeuMM, Los Angeles, CA 2019
Member's Show, Riverside Art Museum, 2019
Music for Your Eyes, Orange County Center for Contemporary Art, Santa Ana, CA 2018
Group Shows, RCAA, Riverside, CA 2018
Make Bees Great Again, Caughlan Art Lab, BackStreet Art District, Palm Springs, CA 2017
User to User, Gallery 825, Los Angeles, CA 2017
Thunder of Meaning, Gallery 825, Los Angeles, CA 2017
LAAA Benefit Auction, Los Angeles, CA 2017
LA Fabrik Art Expo, booth, Los Angeles, CA 2017
Group Shows, RCAA, Riverside, CA 2017
LAAA Benefit Auction, Los Angeles, CA 2016
LA Fabrik Art Expo, booth, Los Angeles, CA 2016
About Face, T.E. Studio & Gallery, Riverside, CA 2016
Group Shows, RCAA, Riverside, CA 2016
Portraits, RCAA, Riverside, CA 2016
Group Faculty Show CBU Gallery, Riverside, CA 2015
Solo Shows, Migliore, Riverside & Corona, CA 2015-Present
Group Faculty Show CBU Gallery, Riverside CA 2014
Group Faculty Show CBU Gallery, Riverside CA 2013
Group Show, Downtown Riverside Holiday Festival, Riverside, CA 2013
Gallery Group Show, D Gallery, Lake Arrowhead Village, Lake Arrowhead, CA 2012
Group Show, Members Exhibit, Riverside Art Museum, Riverside, CA 2012
Group Show, Seeing through the eyes of the Mona Lisa, Arena 1 Gallery, Santa Monica, CA 2011
Group Show, Members Exhibit, Riverside Art Museum, Riverside, CA 2011
Faculty Show at California Baptist University, Riverside, CA 2011
Group Show, Off the Wall & Auction, Riverside Art Museum, Riverside, CA 2010
Group Show in honor of Roland Reiss, Bunny Gunner Gallery, Pomona, CA 2010
Group Show, Renee L. Theuer’s Gallery, Riverside, CA 2010
Group Show, Tranquility of Manipulation, Riverside Arts Project, Riverside, CA 2010
Solo Show, In our Dreams, Art Depot Gallery, Fontana, CA 2009
Breast Cancer Awareness Art Show, Palette Gallery, Ojai, CA, 2008
Solo Show, People’s Gallery, Riverside, CA, 2008
Group Show, Green Room of Domestic Setting, Los Angeles, CA, 2006
Group Show, Supersonic, Barnsdall Park, Los Angeles, CA, 2006
Solo MFA Show, Exodus, Claremont Graduate University’s East Gallery, Claremont, CA, 2005
Solo Interactive Installation, Zyklon B, Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, CA, 2005
Group Show, Fresh, Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, CA, 2005
Selected Show, Buckingham, Pomona, CA, 2005
Selected Exhibit, Emporia, Pomona, CA, 2005
Selected & Group Shows, Opera Garage, Pomona, CA, 2005
Women Artists’, Exquisite, Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, CA, 2004
Dual Show, Portraits from Studio 3643, Riverside Art Museum, Riverside, CA, 2002
Solo Show, I am Woman, Hear Me, Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA, 2001
Dual Show, New Works, Riverside Community Arts Association, Riverside, CA, 2001
Annual Member Shows, Riverside Art Museum, Riverside, CA, 1985-Present
Group Shows, Riverside People’s Gallery, Riverside, CA, 2001-2910
Group Shows, Riverside Community Arts Association, Riverside, CA, 1986-Present
Group Shows, Reconstruction Gallery, Brea, CA, 1996-1998
Selected Show, booth, Laguna Beach Art-A-Fair, Laguna Beach, CA, 1994-1997
Selected Winners Group Show, World Persecution Awareness, United States Capitol, Washington DC, 1997
Selected Show, Animals of Beauty, Lee’s Framing & Gallery, Riverside, CA, 1993
Solo Show, Bear in a Basket, Java Books, Riverside, CA, 1993
Solo Show, Citizens Committee of Riverside, CBU, Riverside, CA, 1993
Selected Shows, San Bernardino County Museum of Art, San Bernardino, CA, 1992-1998
Solo Show, Mood Swings, Riverside Community Arts Association, Riverside, CA, 1991
Solo Show, YWCA Gallery, Riverside, CA, 1990
Senior Art Show, Imago Dei, California Baptist University, Riverside, CA, 1987
Publications/Reviews:
The 19th International Art Exchange Exhibition, Art Catalogue, Tokyo, Japan
Perceive Me, Art Catalogue, 2019
Los Angeles Art Association Volume II, Art Catalogue, 2019
VoyageLA interview http://voyagela.com/interview/meet-caron-g-rand/ 2018
About Face, art show review, Riverside: 'About Face' art exhibit shows portraits of private and public figures, The Press-Enterprise, Riverside, CA 2016
For Roland, Claremont Graduate University, CA Art Alumni Exhibit Catalogue for Roland Reiss, 2010
City Council of Fontana, CA televised interview of solo show, In our Dreams, 2009
T.V. Channel 3, CA interview for the solo art show, In our Dreams,2009
Personal Portraits, interview on portraiture, Inland Empire Magazine, CA, March 1, 2008
The Flame Magazine, Claremont Graduate University, CA art featured on the cover as well as a write-up and photo of Exodus MFA show, Spring 2006
Supersonic Catalogue, Barnsdall Park, Hollywood, CA 2006
Digress, Riverside, CA, featured article on local artist
The Press-Enterprise, Riverside, CA, series of write-ups on local art shows
Review Magazine, featured artist for 1993 Year of the Woman, Riverside, CA
Awards:
Gold Award of Excellence, 19th International Art Exchange Exhibition & Competition, Tokyo, Japan 2019
First Place, Riverside Art Museum Member’s Show, Riverside, CA 2001
Second Place, In the Arts, Fallbrook, CA 1998
Second Place, World Persecution Awareness, United States Capitol, Washington DC 1997
First Place, Laguna Beach Holiday Palette Program, CA 1995
First Place, Riverside Mayor’s Ball Cover Contest, CA 1993
Award of Merit, California Exposition & State Fair, CA 1992
First Place, Riverside Jazz Festival Poster Contest, CA 1991
Senior Art Award, California Baptist University, CA 1987
Community:
Board Member for the Riverside People’s Gallery, 2004-2011
Board Member for the Riverside Arts Council, 2002-2004
President of the Riverside Community Arts Association, 1995-1996
Donations of Artwork:
York Region Children’s Aid Society Fundraiser, Newmarket, ON
Art Depot Gallery, Private Collection, Fontana, CA
Operation Safe House Fundraiser, Riverside, CA
Get Art, Project Angel Food Art Auction, Bonham’s & Butterfields, Los Angeles, CA
Waves of Grace, Tsunami Benefit Art Auction, Japanese Cultural Center, Los Angeles, CA
The Gallery of Gifted Youth of Pomona, Inc., Pomona, CA
Riverside County Mock Trial Competition, Riverside, CA
Rape Crisis Center, Riverside, CA
Temple Beth El, Riverside, CA
Riverside Hospice, Riverside, CA
Riverside Women’s Guild, Riverside, CA
Riverside Men’s Shelter, Riverside, CA
Riverside Arts Foundation, Riverside, CA
World Vision Relief & Development International, San Dimas, CA
Green Party Fundraiser, Riverside, CA
Member:
LAAA, Los Angeles Art Association, Los Angeles, CA
Portrait Society of America, Tallahassee, FL
National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, DC
Riverside Art Museum, Riverside, CA
Riverside Community Arts Association, Riverside, CA