Artist

Carol Ochs (<-like "Oaks") sees paintbrushes as magic wands! When discussing something with Carol that perhaps makes no sense to YOU, it's fairly common that you'll hear her say "Well, in MY world this is how it is!" And so is it is with her fantasy art...."as SHE sees it in her world".

Carol's magic-of-choice is watercolor, pen & ink...sometimes acrylics. Self-taught in art, she's dabbled in several genres since childhood and is enamored with many Old World forms of crafting...including soap and potion making. With a lifelong fascination with legend, myth, nature, and the whimsical, when asked "Why fantasy art?", she responds, "I just instinctually connect with all things enchanted, the bond between horses and all animals, and deep forest-y places...I've also never really grown up! So it's my compulsion to paint enchanted realms & creatures, and if it happens to charm you too, then I've shared a bit of magic that I hope puts a sparkle in your eye!"

An early childhood memory of Carol's, is glimpsing a faery, crrrazy as it sounds! She spied it near a blossoming cherry tree ...proof positive (to her)--tHeY DO eXiSt! Never to give up the hunt, she returned to that tree, pickle jar in-hand, hell-bent on recapturing that meeting. And she DID.....at least in drawings! This cherished memory would later re-visit...

Anne Sudworth, Brian Froud, and Alan Lee are major influences on Carol. The fantasy art-bug reawakened in her while reading Anne's beautiful book "Enchanted World", ...and Brian and Alan's much-loved book collaboration, "Faeries", with her own children. Carol's faery-sighting memory returned with striking clarity conjuring up all the magical feelings that carried her through childhood and continue to touch her! Drawing a subsequent sketch of her daughter, it became *POOF!* a faery portrait! A spell bewitched her and she's been painting fantasy ever since with a focus on the faery realm--fairies as you'd catch them in their own natural, wild habitats!

"Enchanted art for me, is about more than painting a figure and slapping on a pair of wings. It's a way of seeing with enchanted eyes, the magic in creatures, ordinary things, and natural surroundings and expressing, illuminating that sense of mystical possibility into your art," she says, "Or such is what drives me and what inspires me most!" Another favorite influence is the art of John William Waterhouse, pre-Raphaelite master. "His blending of natural settings with female beauty leaves me in awe; I could stare at his art endlessly." Another significant influence is Chris Van Allsburg, children's book author and illustrator, best known for Polar Express. "Everything he creates is pure magic! I aspire to attain even a fraction of his vision and story-telling gifts!"

Carol's resume history includes a love of writing, animals, the great outdoors, and a 13-year career in plastic and reconstructive surgery nursing. She traveled the US and South America via this work, which opened her eyes to many cultures and landscapes. She later met, fell instantly in love with, and married her prince--an accomplished jazz guitarist and business owner. Free-lance writing and other home-based businesses followed to focus around home and raising their family. They have three children and a bevy of pets in San Diego, California. Carol owns Simply Soap - A California Handcrafted Soap Co. (est. 1994), where she concocts natural ingredients into the sorcery of Old World artisan soaps. Still, art always calls! A home-based WORKSHOP/STUDIO (<--click for a virtual tour) is the center of her art and soapmaking businesses. Most of Carol's painting occurs in the cool quiet of late night, or wee hours of the morning when the magic of midnight surrounds!

In 2005, Carol contributed artwork to a book "Visions of Atlantis", published by Ellen Million Graphics.

Carol also contributed art for another book due out 2008, by Llewellyn Publishers on "Drawing and Painting Dragons".

Carol's art studio, where she usually can be found in the magic of evenings...but a lot of sketching and creative thinking takes place in her favorite rocker, in her favorite garden, WITH her favorite creative thinking partners.....Codie and Baylie. Are they the most adorable partners or WHAT? --->

FAQ'S Carol Receives

Where did the name "Wild Oaks Art" come from?

"My last name, Ochs ("Oaks") seems difficult for many to pronounce correctly....(we get versions of Ooch, Ouch, Ox....hehe), so to include an easier version of my surname, ...+ celebrate the magic of oak trees (legendary portals into the faery realm), ...+ share my personal credo that creativity is often born of "getting a little WILD now and then"...the name 'Wild Oaks Art' was hatched!"

What inspires your art ideas?

"Anything, really...the most unlikely occurrences or fly-by *things* spark my ideas. I'm especially inspired by nature, gloaming (nightfall)--that thin veil between day and night when magic is most palpable, the glow of the moon. And music (ALL styles)--encourages my creativity. Also highly inspiring are memories, fantasies, horses, other animals, fantasy movies, books, children, a mood, my family, other art. Inspiration is everywhere...just grab-onto-an idea and translate it in a medium you enjoy. Whimsy and a sense of humor often creep into my paintings, probably due to my own whacky sense of humor."

"I think we're ALL probably artists to some degree.....some are just more compelled than others to transfer what's in our heads, onto paper, canvas, clay, digital mediums, metal, wood, music... I'm not even convinced that doing art is some 'gift'...as you hear it referred to so often. Every artist I know has to work very hard at it and trying to master it can be maddening, a never-ending quest. Having the 'drive' to do art and become better-skilled is what makes 'an artist', in my opinion....not necessarily an inherent proclivity where what flows out of your hand onto paper looks good easily....many HAVE that inherent gift, but are not at all interested in being an artist! At least one of my children comes to mind in that regard...all that talent wasted on someone who doesn't even pursue it!-*wink*"

You say you've always dabbled in art. What made you decide to start offering your art for sale?

"I didn't think I'd ever 'sell' my art, I just did it for my own enjoyment, a way to exorcise silly visions trapped in my head. Painting is relaxing for me and I enjoy the escapism and open-ended creativity of fantasy art....you can draw faeries or creatures any way you like and no one can say 'No, that's not how faeries look!' "Well, that's how MY faeries look!"

"I was moreless coaxed into offering my art 'for sale', and went along with the idea on a whim...sometimes the entrepreneurial spirit gets the best of me and I can't stop myself! I did some custom art labels for a soap client of mine who really liked what I made for her and she kept bugging me to sell my art. After several encouraging nudges like that from other people as well, it kind of snowballed and I decided to put up a website. There IS something validating and brave about taking 'that next step', being willing to sell art you create, ....even more validating if there are buyers! If what I draw or paint touches a viewer, then I've given shape to something tickling my imagination. But someone connecting with it, enjoying it, fully completes the circle of what makes art, 'art'."

How do you manage running two businesses AND a family?

" Industrial-strength multi-tasking. (laughs) Sometimes I have to break available time down into 15 minute chunks, if not a long stretch to do painting or any particular thing, which is very difficult for me, because I like to work on projects for long stretches uninterrupted, so that's been a tough skill to master...being satisfied with small blocks of time. Working from a home-based location allows a lot of flexibility I can't imagine NOT having! We purchased our house based specifically on it having a separate 800 sq. ft. custom workshop on the property. We said 'We'll take it!' before we even looked inside the house. I don't know what I'd do without a separate place for all the messes my projects lead to..."

Preferred painting supplies and materials?

"Fabriano 300 lb. hot press watercolor paper, Yarka St. Petersburg, Winsor & Newton, or Daniel Smith pan and tube watercolors and gouache, Derwent and Prismacolor watercolor pencils, Micron pens, old style nib pens and jar-ink. I occasionally dabble in acrylics and am liking them a LOT!"

How can I contact Carol?

If you'd like to leave a comment with Carol , please do so at WildOaksArt@aol.com! Carol welcomes your feedback and questions. Thank You!

Join our blog for updates! E-mail feed Subscription available!

HOME - OPEN EDITION PRINTS - LIMITED EDITION PRINTS - SERIES GALLERY - GIFTS - PURCHASE, LICENSE, COPYRIGHT - COMMISSIONS AND PORTRAITURE - COMPANIES OUR ART IS LICENSED WITH - WHOLESALE - THE ARTIST - WHAT'S NEW - PUBLICATIONS - NEWSLETTER - CONTACT US - LINKS - (Our Sister Companies -->) ENCHANTASIES - SIMPLY SOAP - THE FANTASY ART GATHERING - BLOGS

Come visit Carol's other businesses too, if you wish! Thanks for coming by...and watch as her art offerings grow!!

Hit Counter