about carol may: the painting artist

One of my early paintings.

After college my art was set aside until my mother retired and took up painting.

She studied under various art teachers.

One of her teachers was Bill Alexander who was Bob Ross's mentor and teacher.

She became one of Bill Alexander's certified teachers just like Bob Ross.

She started teaching art classes and gave me private painting lessons.

My first paintings were mountains and landscapes.

The joy of learning to paint.

So, I kept practicing my mother's lessons:

• The essential painting materials to start.
• How do we create a pleasing composition?
• Using a focal point, as an attraction.
• The basics of how to mix colors.

These are all on How to Get into Painting.

My art supplies were kept in a fishing tackle box and I painted on a portable easel in the living room.

Walter Foster books gave me ideas for paintings, like the one in the photo.

Posing for his portrait

My paintings changed from mountains to the plants and animals of Florida.

The flora and fauna of Florida put me in awe!

The pelicans and all the other birds and flowers amazed me.

I did so many pelican paintings that after a while I vowed, "No more pelican paintings!"

Well that lasted for a while.

Artists tend to paint what we see around us.

What are good Ideas for Painting?

"Country Barns"

Since my mom and I now lived in different states, I rarely got to paint with her any more.

But one time she flew to Florida and we drove up to New England and painted on location for two weeks.

It was the first time I had ever seen the beautiful fall colors of New England.

That was awesome! We didn't see many fall colors in Florida.

After I got home, "Country Barns" was completed and it was privileged to win a best of show award.

My favorite Florida painting

When the paintings started running out of the spare bedroom, Art by Carol May was born.

In the beginning I put my paintings in galleries.

Then I joined a wonderful art co-op, Island Arts in Cedar Key, Florida. It was fun working with the other artists.

My husband suggested we do some of the street festivals.  We did that for a few years in Florida.

It's such a joy meeting people and sharing art with them.

"Born Free" Dolphins

I taught the Bill Alexander (Bob Ross) method of oil painting to students in Florida.

About the turn of the century I started painting with watercolor using the basic art principles.

These principles of art apply to all types of paintings no matter what medium you use.

People started asking me to teach my watercolor methods, so I taught aspiring students.

We painted things like sea turtles and the Florida dolphins.

My desire is to share my years of experience with budding artists to advance your artistic journey.

Now after retirement, my home is a small town in horse and cattle country in the Midwest.

When I moved here, I had the aspirations of giving painting lessons and selling paintings like in Florida.

But the painting market here is not as lively. And my art studio doesn't have enough space for students.

So, I needed to change horses in the middle of the stream.

Art by Carol May needed to expand.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

My goal as an artist is to share the beauty and wonder of God's beautiful creations.

I have always had a love for nature. My first artwork was landscape paintings.

Then some of my favorite subjects were birds, butterflies, hummingbirds and other critters like giraffes and dolphins.

The flower paintings will often include a butterfly or a hummingbird.

The flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds that make wonderful subjects for a painting.

You may want to include different types of butterflies or hummingbirds in your paintings.