“When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it’s your world for the moment. I want to give that world to someone else…” – Georgia O’Keeffe
The largest body of work on display are oil paintings depicting local landscapes within a twenty-five mile periphery of Sycamore, focusing on small scenes. Every day on her way to work Carol Bingham will travel on back roads that are not only efficient but the landscape is stunning no matter what time of day or time of year.
What she sees is inspiration for her art, which is based on color and form. She is captivated by how each scene is illuminated, whether it be a stream, mailboxes on a country road, old houses, or reeds on a shoreline. Her style of painting is impressionistic with enough detail and expression that leaves a lasting visual impact on one’s natural senses.
“I grew up in a small town in central Illinois.” says Bingham. “As a child, my playground was wood, rock and river. All were within a block of my home. When it rained I played barefoot in the road, and at dusk I watched thousands of fireflies light up grass and field. I began painting at an early age, first exhibiting my work at age 14, and have always known I would someday paint the prairie. I want to paint the prairie as I experience it. The land is full of texture, color and light. It can be stark or subtle. It is forever changing.”
Other paintings on display are examples of portraiture, watercolor, and water-based mixed media on paper.
Bingham is a 2000 summa cum laude graduate of Northern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Illustration. She has had the opportunity to show her work at the Norris Cultural Center in St. Charles, The Next Picture Show in Dixon and in several group exhibitions through the Kishwaukee Valley Art League and at The Art Box. Other artists who have influenced her work are Albert H. Krehbiel, John Singer Sargent, Kathryn Townsend, Cynthia Rosen and Louisa McElwain.
Exhibitions:
2021, 17th Regional Survey of Art Exhibit, The Nest Picture Show, Dixon, Illinois, Award: Best of Show – “Not a Drop of Rain”
2020, “Solitary Places”, solo exhibition of paintings, The Art Box, DeKalb, Illinois
2019, “Vicinity”, Jury Group Exhibition, Norris Cultrual Center, St. Charles, Illinois, Award: Award of Excellence – “Grassland”
2019, “16 DeKalb Gallery Artists”, Group Exhibition, The Art Box, DeKalb, Illinois
2019, “Depicting DeKalb County”, Group Exhibition, Ellwood House Museum, DeKalb, Illinois
2018-2019, “15th Annual Regional Exhibition”, Jury Group Exhibition, Freeport Art Museum, Freeport, Illinois, Award: Honorable Mention, “Portrait of Lynden Bute”
2018, “Encore-Art in the Country”, Jury Group Exhibition, Mt. Morris, Mt. Morris, Illinois, Award: Award of Excellence, “Snowfall on the Churchroad”
2018, “50th Anniversary Alumni Group Exhibition, Kishwaukee College, Malta, Illinois
2018, “The Color of the Land”, Solo Exhibition, The Art Box, DeKalb, Illinois
2018, “Art: Inspire. Explore. Create.”, Kishwaukee Valley Art League, Group Exhibition, Kishwaukee College, Malta, Illinois
2017, “Vicinity”, Juried Group Exhibition, Norris Cultural Center, St. Charles, Illinois
2017, “Once Upon a Time I Traveled…”, Group Exhibition, The Art Box, DeKalb, Illinois
Affiliations: Member Illinois Watercolor Society, Kishwaukee Valley Art League www.kval-nfg.org
Galleries: The Art Box, DeKalb Gallery www.dekalbgallery.com
“GARDENS LYING AT IMPOSSIBLE DISTANCES”, oil on panel, image size: 21-1/2” H x 14-1/2” W.
“GARDENS LYING AT IMPOSSIBLE DISTANCE”, framed with walnut floater with a darker brown inside. Outside dimensions: 23-1/2” H x 16-1/2” W. $950
“COPPER SKY”, oil on canvas, outside dimensions: 15” H x 30” W, unframed. $650
“AFTER THE RAIN”, oil on canvas, outside dimensions: 15” H x 30” W, unframed. $650
15th Annual Regional Juried Exhibition
“EAGAN'S FIELD”, watercolor on 140 lb. hot press Arches rag, image size: 21-3/4” H x 15-5/8” W, unframed.
a solo exhibition of paintings featuring Carol Bingham
"August Light", oil on basswood, 18" H x 24" W, unframed
"August Light", oil on basswood, 18" H x 24" W, framed in hand-finished maple floating profile. $600
“Grassland”, oil on canvas, image size: 24” H x 48” W, unframed. $750
“Snowfall on the Church Road”, oil on wood panel, 26” H x 15-1/2” W.
“Snowfall on the Church Road”, framed in ¾” owl brown “barn wood” floating profile, O. D.: 28-1/8” H x 17-5/8” W. $450
“Morning Light”, oil on panel, image size: 24” H x 18” W.
“Morning Light”, oil on panel. Framed in whitewashed poplar floating profile, outside dimensions: 25-1/2” H x 19-5/8” W, framed. $600
“Prairie House”, 2018, oil on wood, 18” H x 24” W.
“Prairie House”, 2018, framed in hand rubbed polyurethane oak. (SOLD!)
"Second House on the Left", oil on canvas, image size: 18" H x 36" W, unframed. $425
"Winter Field", oil on panel, unframed
"Winter Field", oil on panel, framed in gold edged floating profile. $750
“Portrait of Lynden Bute”, oil on basswood, image size: 16” H x 12” W, unframed. $800