Carolyn Cleveland Schena
Artist Statement

Being raised in the country on a small farm in Western New York gave me access and appreciation for nature early in life. It is this fascination and love of the outdoors that imbibes my work. I am inspired by the beauty that surrounds me where I currently live on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. I find it to be my greatest passion and greatest challenge to bring the spirit of what touches me about the outdoors into my art work. I received a B.A. in fine arts from S.U.N.Y. Albany and I have a Master's degree in environmental education from the University of New Mexico.
While painting is my first love whether I am working in acrylic on canvas or under glazes on ceramic, I also have found a passion for making jewelry in clay, glass and silver. I enjoy the contrast of creating smaller more precious pieces of art in the form of jewelry and the larger works of art I do in tile murals and acrylic canvas paintings. The hand carving and sculpting involved with the jewelry making strengthens by painting skills, and vice versa.

Several years spent as an interpretive ranger in New Mexico, deepened my appreciation for nature. That work combined with my practice of mindfulness meditation has influenced my creative experience. I do not want to create something as true to nature as I can, but more to be truly present while creating. I see this as a life long pursuit, and hopefully a fulfilling journey.