Hard at work with headphones on. This is what creating looks like for me…
ABOUT / ARTISTS BIO:
BORN AND RAISED IN ALBERTA, CANADA, I HAVE BEEN DRAWING AS FAR BACK AS MEMORY CAN TAKE ME. OF COURSE AS A SMALL GIRL I BEGAN WITH HORSES. AS I GREW OLDER, THAT EVOLVED INTO INTRICATE STILL-LIFES AND PORTRAITS, ALL IN GRAPHITE. I ENJOYED WHAT I WAS DOING BUT SOMETHING WAS MISSING, AND I COULDN’T QUITE PUT MY FINGER ON IT. AND THEN I DREW MY FIRST WILDLIFE PICTURE AND WAS SMITTEN! IT WAS THE INNOCENCE AND PURITY OF WILD ANIMALS THAT WAS SO ATTRACTIVE TO ME. I STRIVE WITH EACH WORK TO PORTRAY THEM AS ACCURATELY AS POSSIBLE, MY HOMAGE TO THEIR BEAUTY AND SIMPLICITY. TO ME, THERE IS SOMETHING SO INTRIGUING, AND HUMBLING, IN DRAWING SOMETHING THAT EXISTS THAT DOESN’T KNOW IT EXISTS. ANIMALS SIMPLY ARE. THEY KNOW INSTINCTIVELY WHAT THEY NEED TO DO EVERY DAY TO SURVIVE AS THEY COEXIST IN THEIR ENVIRONMENT IN A FRAGILE AND HARMONIC BALANCE.
I AM COMPLETELY SELF-TAUGHT. I DIDN’T GO TO ART SCHOOL OR TAKE LESSONS. DRAWING HAS ALWAYS COME NATURALLY TO ME. MAYBE IT WAS GIVEN TO ME AS PART OF MY SPIRIT OR SOUL, BUT PEOPLE AROUND ME RECOGNIZED IT BEFORE I DID. FAMILY, FRIENDS AND TEACHERS WOULD ENCOURAGE IT, BOTH VERBALLY AND BY GIVING ME TOOLS TO USE AND EXPERIMENT WITH. FOR THAT I AM GRATEFUL. SOMETIMES PEOPLE HAVE GIFTS THAT THEY DON’T SEE IN THEMSELVES AND IT TAKES LITTLE PUSHES HERE AND THERE TO FULLY UNDERSTAND THEIR OWN UNIQUENESS.
“SINCE WE HAVE GIFTS THAT DIFFER ACCORDING TO THE GRACE GIVEN TO US, EACH OF US IS TO EXERCISE THEM ACCORDINGLY…” ROMANS 12:6
MY GRACE IS ART, LET ME SHARE IT WITH YOU! JOIN ME ON MY JOURNEY INTO THE NATURAL WORLD.
CAROL STRATMAN AFC
Links, Affiliations and Memberships
Signature Member - 2022
As of June 15, 2022 I am now an Signature Member of Artists for Conservation. This world renowned group of artists use their superpower, art, to aid in worldwide conservation efforts. I am honored and humbled to be part of this amazing organization, now at the Signature level. Any of my work sold on their site contributes a percentage of the sale to wildlife and wild spaces conservation efforts I have personally chosen!
Member - 2020
This is my local gallery, where I can mingle with the artists in my area. Exchanging ideas and experience with different genres and mediums adds to my knowledge, and I get to hang with fellow artists locally!
Pastel Artists of Canada
Member since 2019, this very specific group affords me the ability to show and compete with other pastel artists. As I continually strive for improvement in my work, being surrounded by very talented fellow pastelists ensures this will happen. My first juried event is December 1, 2020.
Exhibiting Member
The Society of Western Canadian Artists is a website full of beautiful work by artists who call Western Canada home. Beautiful prairies, majestic mountains, rivers, the ocean and urban centers are all within hours of each other. The various styles, genres and mediums highlight our stunning and striking vistas with beauty and skill. I am proud to be a part of this guild! I was juried into the Exhibiting Member status as of December 17, 2020!
Member
St. Alberta, AB has a very strong art community, and I am pleased to be counted as a member. There are a multitude of genres, mediums and skill levels in this guild, as well as workshops and exhibitions. I look forward to being a long-term member!