ARTIST’S STATEMENT

My most recent body of work is composed of large gestural drawings done in charcoal, pastel, acrylic, and mixed media. They employ distortion and exaggeration in a way that enables the shapes to be liberated. I think they can best be described as character portraits. I begin each piece with some blind contour drawing, and then develop it according to the length of the pose and the energy, emotion and personality of my sitter.

For me drawing is a finished medium rather than solely a vehicle for preliminary studies. Part of the reason for this is dictated by my process which allows me to capture the moment rather than focusing on the academics of portraiture.

I enjoy the feel of charcoal and take advantage of its tactile properties in depicting sensual aspects of my models. Charcoal is completely responsive in heightening emotional states… mine and the model’s.

BIO

Carol Benisatto has a degree in Advertising Art & Design, and has also conducted her studies at several well known art institutes, including; The Stevenson Academy of Art in Seacliff, The Long Island Art League, formerly The Huntington Township Art League, and The Nassau County Museum of Art.  She is studying the figure with Maija Veide at The Katonah Art Center.

She is a former member of Viridian Artists @ Chelsea, where she was Vice President and a member of the Board of Directors.  She is also a member of the Katonah Museum Artists Association, and the Blue Door Artist Association.

Her most recent work is a collection of unusual character portraits and landscapes.  For the most part, her media is charcoal, pastel and ink, but has also been showing work done in acrylic, watercolor and collage.  Currently she is exhibiting at a number of locations in Putnam and Westchester County, including The Paint Box in Bedford Hills, and A.R.T.S. Gallery in Croton Falls.  Her work is in private collections in San Francisco, Virginia, Florida, Montana, New Jersey and New York.

RECENT JURIED EXHIBITIONS

Northern Westchester Center for the Arts
June 2000
“Gone Fishin”, Judge – Harry Philbrick
Director, Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art

Northern Westchester Center for the Arts
October 2002
“Viewpoints”, Judge – Sarah Bancroft
Associate Curator, The Guggenheim Museum

32nd Annual ART SHOW:Bedford
October 2004
40th Annual Invitational Exhibit
November 2004
The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of
Croton-on –Hudson

Katonah Museum of Art
May 2005
“artistic fragments art 2005”
Judge-Benny Andrews

33rd Annual ART SHOW: Bedford
October 2005
Bedford, NY

34th Annual ART SHOW: Bedford
October 2006
Bedford, NY

“Timeless The Art of Drawing”
September 2008
Morris Museum
Morristown, NJ

The KMMA at the Sculpture Barn
October 2008
New Fairfield, CT

Blue Door Gallery Inaugural Exhibition
March 2009
13 Riverdale Ave.
Yonkers, NY

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RECENT SOLO SHOWS

June 2004
“Models and Muses”
Cirque d’Art Gallery
Bedford, NY

February 2006
“Configurations”
Viridian Artists Gallery
New York, New York

December 2007
“Drawings & Paintings”
Scarsdale Jewish Community Center
Scarsdale, NY

May 2010
“Harlots & Hometown Girls”
Viridian Artists Gallery
New York, New York

September 2010
Edward & Bernice Wenger Center for the Arts Gallery
East Hills, NY

SPECIAL PROJECTS

2008
Artwork featured in independent film:
“Failing Better Now”