Carol Cassel Baker: Face to Face

Carol Cassel Baker, (clockwise) Contemplation, Wise Woman with Hat, Blonde Brian, Intensity, 2022, Oil on Canvas, 16 x 16 inches

Carol Cassel Baker: Face to Face walks us through a sea of diverse American faces. Human faces tell a story. Artist Carol Cassel Baker’s portraits convey a palpable human connection to her models, though she is equally interested in the formal elements of each painting. The challenge is to paint the flesh with sensual, descriptive color capturing a likeness of the model while presenting an energetic, balanced visual interaction among all the components of the painting. It’s the interplay of color, light, and composition that proves intriguing. May the viewer enjoy winding through subtle, nuanced parts of the face, as well as discover unexpected instances of color, interesting shadows, and strong composition.

Artist Bio
Carol Cassel Baker is a retired teacher and former illustrator from Indianapolis, IN. She studied Fine Arts and Art History at Purdue University, earned a BFA in Painting from Herron School of Art at Indiana University, and went on to earn an MFA in Painting from Pratt Institute. She studies portraiture through Continuing Ed at SVA in NYC. Baker works mostly in oil paint and soft pastel, focusing on the interaction of color and composition. Baker continues to make art at her home in Maplewood, NJ, and exhibits her artwork in multiple juried shows throughout the region.