A Minute With Caroline Zurmely
Hi! This is a newsletter about artists I like.
I began acquiring art through some friends that worked in galleries. I started small, working on a limited budget, for stuff I could afford. As time passed, my collection grew, and it was exciting to watch many of the artists I'd collected go on to bigger shows and critical acclaim.
My goal with this newsletter is to make a digestible resource for anyone interested in artists that are making great (and still affordable!) work, whom you haven't heard about... yet.
I came across Caroline’s work on Instagram and was immediately drawn to her style of her work and then did a double take when I saw in a caption of hers that it was, “nail polish on panel.” I saw a bunch of comments saying what I was thinking so I figured it would be best to ask Caroline directly about her process and work and being an artist in Dallas.
Can you tell us about your style of painting and how you got into nail polish as a medium for your work?
Caroline: A few years back I was making paintings out of the texture/fibers of stiffened vintage towels. I would find an image people would recognize, play with it on the computer, narrow the colors down to 3 or 4 tones, make a stencil and arrange the height of the fibers to achieve different shades to create an overall picture. It was a lot fun figuring out how to make my idea happen, but took forever and felt limiting with images that would work and color. I felt I needed a drawing like facet to my practice because the towels took forever and were demanding.
I remembered in college making drawings on marker paper with enamel paint pens. They were simple and monochromatic. I loved the way the pen would puddle when you’d hold it down for too long. But, it felt silly to buy these pens just to basically break them. Also the color options were slim. So I was making paintings out of towels, I was also sometimes depicting still lifes of toiletries on top of towels and it just felt silly and right to try nail polish out. I essentially make glorified bathroom art. I mean, between the towels, the nail polish and the tabloid imagery you would find in a People magazine atop your toilet tank, it’s pretty ridiculous. So, I tried the nail polish out and I just haven’t stopped. I definitely didn’t realize how expensive of a new medium I had chosen, however it’s kind of become a collection and feeds the inner hoarder in me.
But I normally just tell people “why not?”
There’s been some press recently about galleries expanding into the Dallas market and the collector base has always been strong there, but what’s it like for an artist?
Caroline: I love hearing art is coming to Dallas, but for me Dallas is more of an oasis away from the art world. But that might be just how I have chosen it to function. I think early on, especially when you’re developing or trying something new in your art practice, it’s good to be a little isolated. Too much outside opinion can feel stifling, and comparison is the thief of joy. It’s such a gift to yourself to make guilty pleasure work and not feel self conscious.
But I will say a pet peeve of mine is walking into a gallery in a new city and seeing the same stuff I see in New York, or L.A. or wherever. It’s an opportunity to share art and also differentiate yourself from other places.
What are your must stops for anyone visiting Dallas?
Caroline: Hmm… maybe Northpark. I say that because it’s has an awesome art collection throughout the whole mall. You’ll be shopping along and there will be a massive glittery Frank Stella work hanging above your head that could end ya. They do such a great job. Oh, oh and window displays, duh!
Any shows coming up in the fall/winter or 2023 you can share?
Caroline: Omg! I don’t know. Things are brewing…I’ve been making like a crazy person, so I’m ready when the time comes.
Who should we have on next?
Caroline: Saskia Fleishman!
Linkage:
Nick Relph book signing TONIGHT event at Mast Books….prints will be available too. Buy the book, buy a print.
Counter Editions is launching a 50 year anniversary for Green Peace with a great roster of artists participating, & launches in September.
Griffin Funk just released a great print that sold out quick. Take a look HERE.