The Questionnaire: Catherine Carter

The Questionnaire is meant to be a lighter version of a bio, a little more revealing in some respects and personal without all the facts bogging it down. I supply the questions and the respondents supply the answers. Either one or both of us supply the images.

         C a t h e r i n e  C a r t e r        

What is your favorite color?

I love them all. Green is such a healing, welcoming color that I’ve always been drawn to it, but I don’t really paint with it much. 

"Pool 2," acrylic on canvas, 40"H x 28"W, 2010

What is your favorite word?

Love. It’s not an original sentiment, but I truly believe that it’s all you need. 

Catherine Carter

What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?

Both the human-made – great books, movies, music, foods, conversations, ballet, etc. – and the natural – forests, sand and surf, sunlight, all creatures, etc. 

What turns you off?

People who judge others. People with a negative outlook. People who gossip. 

Work in progress in Catherine's studio

What profession other than artist would you most like to be?

I would be a biographer – interviewing people, doing research, then writing books. I’d start by writing a biography on the late, great actor Patrick McGoohan (I don’t think anyone has yet). 

Patrick McGoohan in "The Prisoner"

What is your favorite book or movie?

My favorite book is “Once A Dancer,” the autobiography of the ballerina Allegra Kent. She is a woman who has truly lived, and her perceptions are unique and revealing. My favorite movie is “To Sir With Love.” Everything you need to know about life is in there, especially the idea that you are responsible for your own behavior, and you owe others your forgiveness and kindness. 

Who is your favorite musician, musical group or style of music?

My idol is Pete Townshend, with or without the Who. Listening to his music, I realized that it’s important to find your true self and then be true to that self. No one puts more heart and soul into his music than this man, as well as the other members of the band (two of whom have sadly died).

Pete Townshend

Peter Dennis Blandford "Pete" Townshend  (born 19 May 1945) is an English rock guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and author, known principally as the guitarist and songwriter for The Who, as well as for his own solo career. His career with The Who spans more than forty years, during which time the band grew to be considered one of the most influential bands of the rock era, and, according to Eddie Vedder, "possibly the greatest live band ever."

Townshend is the primary songwriter for The Who, having written well over one hundred songs for the band's eleven studio albums, including concept albums and the rock operas Tommy and Quadrophenia, plus popular rock and roll radio staples like Who's Next, and dozens more that appeared as non-album singles, bonus tracks on reissues, and tracks on rarities compilations like Odds & Sods. He has also written over one hundred songs that have appeared on his solo albums, as well as radio jingles and television theme songs. Although known primarily as a guitarist, he is also an accomplished singer, keyboardist, and also plays other instruments, such as banjo,accordion, synthesiser, piano, bass guitar and drums, on his own solo albums, several Who albums, and as a guest contributor to a wide array of other artist's recordings. Peter Townshend has never had formal lessons in any of the instruments he plays. (from Wikipedia)

What do you most value in your friends?

It is important to me that my friends are not judgmental. I also want my friends to be kind and gentle to themselves, and to others. 

Name three artists whose work has influenced your own or whose work you most relate to.

The artists my style is compared to are Brice Marden and Jackson Pollock, and while I admire them both tremendously, they are not really my favorites. I have many many favorites, but if I HAD to name three, they would be Gustav Caillebotte, Joseph Cornell and Wayne Thiebaud.

Gustav Caillebotte, "The Floor Scrapers"

Joseph Cornell, "Setting for a Fairytale"

Wayne Thiebaud, "Lemon Meringue Pie"

Name an artist whose work you admire but which may be unlike yours.

None of the artists I most admire paint like me (see above)! 

Catherine Carter: "Ripple 3," acrylic on canvas, 40"H x 28"W, 2009

What is your idea of earthly happiness?

Headphones playing great music, all the paints and art supplies I need, and no need to be anywhere or do anything but PAINT in my studio. I also have a fantasy of being able to eat macaroni and cheese, and chocolate cake, without ever gaining a pound, but I don’t think that’s possible on Earth. 

WORKS BY CATHERINE CARTER

(See more at www.CatherineCarterArt.com)

"Alizarin Lines," acrylic on canvas, 30" square, 2010

"Desert 3," acrylic on canvas, 44"H x 30" W, 2010

"Thicket 1," acrylic on canvas, 40" square, 2009

"Deep Sea 1," acrylic on canvas, 29"H x 20.75"W, 2010