Inspired by her love for animals and nature, many of the paintings in this series portray animals that are, or were at one time, an endangered species. “I cannot imagine a world without the grace, courage, and beauty of these beings, and each has something special to give to all of us,” she says. Some of the animals in this series are Colorado residents, while others are native to diverse habitats all across the globe.

  Carol traveled a long road of many different creative endeavors before she began exploring the digital spectrum. After getting a degree in Fine Art, she employed her artistic talents in a parade of varied jobs. Over the years she worked as a display artist, an interior designer, a graphic artist, a copywriter, and a creative director. She owned an ad agency with her husband, L.J. Heart, for many years. Their agency was involved in producing books and print ads, and even television commercials. In addition to her prodigious career in the visual arts, she also loves writing fiction and has completed two novels. Further, her husband was a musician, and together she and L.J. wrote hundreds of original songs and produced them in their digital recording studio. “We were a team,” Carol says, “and we called ourselves Cavalaris & HEART, living a passionate and creative life together, full of love.”

  In winter of 2004, they moved from California to their “dream home” in the mountains of Gilpin County.  Coinciding with this move was the revelation of digital art. Carol says that creating art on the computer opened up a whole new world to them. Adding the digital realm to their repertoire of artistic mediums, they soon took up digital photography as well. “I have discovered that creativity crosses over into all genres,” she says.

   “We both adore nature and animals and spent a wondrous year and a half in our dream home in the mountains experiencing the seasons and beauty.” Then one spring morning in 2006, one that began like any other, within a matter of only a few terrifying minutes, Carol’s world was devastated as her husband suffered abrupt heart failure and died in their home. He had had no previous heart trouble; there was no indication, no warning, no time to say goodbye or even grasp the situation. In an instant, she lost her soul mate. 

   “But I decided to stay in the mountain home we both loved,” she says, and she turned to art and writing to express her feelings through images and words. She developed a new artistic style using the computer and exploring art programs such as Photoshop. “I still use brushes, but now the computer screen is my canvas.” She finds endless creative possibilities, and has perfected a technique for her Spirit of the Wild series.

  Beginning with a very high resolution digital photograph, usually taken by herself or a photographer friend, she brings them into the Photoshop software on her computer where she spends countless hours using Photoshop tools to “hand”-paint fur, feathers, hair, and every part of the animal, along with backgrounds that complement them. With a fine art background in oil painting, she says that color and detail are her passion.  Once a painting is finished, it can be printed at virtually any size on fine art paper, including watercolor, matte, gloss, or even canvas.

  “Every picture I create comes from my heart and I always strive to capture the true essence of the animal, flower, or scene. I write a poem or some short prose to express what each image means to me. Creating has kept joy and meaning in my own life, and now it is my passion to bring healing beauty to others through my art.”

  In addition to her permanent display, Carol will be the featured artist at The Artists’ Niche during the month of June, kicking off with an open reception Friday May 30, 4-8pm. You can check out her work, and the arts and crafts of 20 other local artisans, Wednesday through Sunday, 12pm-7pm. The gallery is located on the southeast corner of the traffic circle in Nederland. If you are an artist interested in joining the cooperative gallery, pick up an application at the store or email sharakay80466@yahoo.com.