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Brief Bio on the Artist:
Once upon a time..... ...( you can add about 10 pounds of time & weight to photo above....) in a beautiful Valley far
away there was born a female named Carlee Marie. .. Named Carlee, after
her Dad. The, only, child of a Naval Aircraft mechanic father (pedigree Austrian/looked like Robert Mitchum but with
handsomely smooth black wavy hair and blue eyes). Carlee's father also knew construction from his father who
could perform every trade necessary to build anything. Dad wanted to join his father and build homes after the
war. Carlee's mother was a beautician (half Irish. Carlee's Mother was from the Gallagher Clan in
Gallway Bay, Ireland; Grandpa Wanish hailed from Bohemia, partially, (isn't that appropriate..) and Berman, Germany).
Mother was our little neighborhood's version of Ginger Rogers mixed with Marliyn Monroe- all rolled up into one. A real
knock out!
Why and how Carlee's art interests began.... (One might say 1952 was a great year for an artist to
be born)! Well, I guess it was just a natural thing. She picked up a pencil and began mimicing comic book characters
or drawings she'd seen in the local Drug Store hangout and/or in the books and the pictures in stained glass windows of the
church by the parochial school she attended.
Art just came natural.........! She thinks she's good but she knows
she has a long stretch for great. I guess all artist's are their worst critics. Constantly, torn between the conscious and
the sub-selfless essence of the superconscious, the artistic libido........ that goes by instinct. Kind of like
at first meeting of chemical correctness.... You must "feel" the love! When someone attempts to embrace
you.... your response is either naturally there or not... That doesn't mean there is substance, just
that the chemistry is there! Substance needs time to be nurtured, caressed....cherished. That is how a painting
production begins! It's about the LOVE, then after the desire to create with passion a treasure..
One note
worthy day Carlee graduated from pencil to the brush,... while vacationing in Cape Cod with her parents. She was 12 years
old. Carlee's mother said to her, speaking for both she and her father, if she could sketch a good enough picture of her father
on a napkin before they finished lunch they promised to buy her a paint set. And that dear friends was a major beginning!
Before Carlee graduated from High School she did manage formal training in Art at the Baum Art Academy in Allentown,
Pennsylvania and U.S.C in Long Beach, now, called Long Beach State in California. Later, she accomplished much, much
more... Specifically, influenced by the French Impressionists she studied
the works of the Masters in St. Paul de Vance, Nice, Paris and several other inspirational towns along the French Riviera.
Later, her industrious passion and pursuit of artistic culture led her throughout Rome, Naples and Salerno. Italy emboldened
her style. Her works impart her love for all cultures that she embraced while extensively traveling throughout the World i.e.
Peru, Chili, Mexico, Argentina, Ireland, England, Amsterdam, Belgium, Spain, Monte Carlo, Monaco, Naples, Pompeii, to name
a few and have sold throughout her 30+ years of experienced artistry. Discovering
the inspirational calmness of Siesta Key in 1986 she bought a home on Columbus Boulevard overlooking the Gulf that same year.
(How appropriate a name for the Street where she lived). Later, she moved to Tremont on the Grand Canal (both have since been
torn down). Convinced she had found the best kept secret in the world, an inspirational Paradise with beaches generously
filled with the beautiful white quartz crystal sand! A dream come true
for a while. Carlee continues to reside in Sarasota, today. Only, due to a bit of a circumstancial dip, not
on the Island she loved, anymore. In those early years while on Siesta Key the Artist had her Art shown and sold
in local Galleries like Eye of the Beholder, The Starving Artist Gallery, The Kress Gallery on Main Street in Sarasota and
a small gallery on Palm, The Uptown Gallary in Pennsylvania, and Palm Beach Gallery in Palm Beach off Worth Avenue and Gracie
Lawrence Gallery in Delray Beach, Open Space Gallery in Pa., and had shared a Studio with other Artists in Essex, Connecticut
(beautiful place) at O'Rourke Marina. However, today, she has her studio in her home and does commissioned Art pieces from
there and sells little Art Prints on Ebay from time to time. Early this
past season Carlee founded a Gulf Coast Art Colony group that meets and shows their work seasonally one day per month at various
selected Parks. Unfortunately, due to the Parks Department Regulations and a lot of other political and personal gripes
from gallery owners downtown & the Parks Dept. people, and an irate soccer mom's.. yep, there's politics in the Art world,
too, problems developed that will not permit our meetings nor permit us to sell our Art unless you pay and cater to
the right associates... The whole idea of the Art Colony was to create a friendly and affordable avenue of exposure
to our work., easy and laid back, effortless...... Unless, we find an affordable show place to meet, show, sell ...the
Art Colony is in limbo.... Wish I could afford to buy some land for our Art Colony.where we all could live.. but alas, we
are "The Not Dead, Yet, ..Starving Artists.." Can't afford the Real Estate in Sarasota. Any ideas?
Welcomed..... Two of Carlee's most cherished treasures,
highlights/accomplishments of Carlee's life are her "beloved" two sons Dave & Chris. Accomplished
and ever so handsome, super fine men. Pillars of any community and contributing grandly to this world
in spite of all the hills and valleys we must endure. If a mother were any more proud of her two sons she would burst! Love always glows.... with a tear and a smile. Bless you my Darlings and may
Angels keep you both safe from harm...
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I was browsing in my closet about three
weeks, ago and saw the black sequened gown I wore about 20 years ago in the picture at the top of this page. One of
my favorites. Had to try it on and what do you think? It still fits..... Wallah! Happiness is...........
Still feeling "Young" and sharing the joy. Haven't found my soul mate yet. But, I'm not a quitter.
I'm still looking.! XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Thought for the Day: Life is filled with hills and valleys, sometimes mountains like the Alps that the Bill Gates or Warren
Buffet's did climb and chasms of desparation as did the Jewish people in the time of Hitler suffer. Then,
there's anyone who is not of that insane Muslem radical Osama Bin Laden's religion. What plague of religious terror defiles
the earth, today! The plummet in your life, the terrors in your life may have been great or small? How
did you deal with it? (The operative word is "deal with it"). How old were you when it affected
you? When you are young it seems you are better equipt to handle most things but when
you get older... the effects can be devastating... I know some people that have gone thru chasms and it took a
good 20 years just to get nose above water... no way near the comfort zone they had. (By the way, both peaks and gorges
have their demons to contend with). The relentless
tenacity that is neccessary to overcome such severe ordeals is nothing less than amazing. One experiences that
kind of continuous floating anxiety; anger and frustration toward cognitive reappraisal; determination to rehabilitate "oneself";
focus & meditation helps to find tranquility of thought and body; profound insight is needed into oneself and our
meaning toward worldly things. Seeking to purify the life that has been defiled turns ordinary into extraordinary
in order to balance with the universe (if "you" choose)- What a walk to walk, to overcome! Outstanding
describes the climb ....... It can be done. Moral to the story.... We all make mistakes, could have made better
choices in our youth and later,.. circumstances may seem overwhelming. Protect your ground as best you can. You
can't change the world but you can change that which is in your circle of life. Consider all the blessings you have,
the joys in life you had and will have, again. Focus on a persistant spider spinning his glorious silken web
if that's all you have to focus on. Remember the good this world has to offer...Dream to live, love, laugh and relax...
be happy with good fortune! Treasure the value of your free world, free life! The material world is
illusive, temporary and shares little kindness. Try to emulate that good which is within and never dies. That
kindness that fits the kind of person you have become, the wonderful, passionate, person you are right, now. ...let him/her without sin, cast the first stone..... The mishap, the debt, whatever you thought it was is
done, past, over,...is paid in full. You can't change it. You can only change yourself, your circle of life, today,
and tomorrow. (The world may reward you one day, or it may not). Life is deserving to those who live it as best they can with what they have to work with..... the
best of you. First step, forgive yourself. Then, one step at a time.... "Be happy..., make someone else happy, too"!
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