On August 5, 2017, the Muscatine Art Center will open the exhibition, “Carol Steinmetz: An Artist’s Spectrum”. Local artist, Carol Steinmetz, has developed her artistic style over the last four decades. The exhibition spans her career from her works in oil to her well known florals, barns, and local landmarks and through her recent exploration with abstract and mixed media. A reception for the artist will be held on Sunday, August 13th from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. with brief remarks at 2:00 p.m.
Carol Boehl Steinmetz begins each watercolor painting with an open mind, putting colors on the paper and allowing them to move around “wet in wet”. Steinmetz is continuously learning and challenging herself. She explains, “I have always enjoyed creating – sewing, knitting, crocheting, home decorating, and gardening. When I was introduced to painting, it became my challenge and pursuit. I wanted to try any and all of the art media from drawing and pastel to watercolor and oil.”
A Muscatine native, Carol attended Muscatine Community College and the University of Iowa. She worked as a secretary for several years and raised a family. When her children began middle school, Steinmetz began to pursue art – a secret ambition. The “Famous Artists School” in Westport, Connecticut offered a correspondence course, and she began to practice from home, primarily in oils. The course was her first introduction to watercolors. Steinmetz attended workshops taught by Ralph Iaccarino, Nita Engle, Barbara Nechis, Tom Lynch, Frank Webb, Judi Betts, Tony Van Hasselt, and others. In more recent years, Steinmetz traveled to Italy to study with American painter, Rose Edin.
Throughout her career, and continuing today, Steinmetz has immersed herself in a wide range of subject matters. She explains, “Living along the Mississippi River in a town with many historic buildings and surrounded by beautiful farmland, there are limitless subjects to paint. In more recent years, I have been experimenting with abstract and collage concepts as well as portraits. I find my passion to paint continues to increase as time goes on.”
Steinmetz is a Signature Member of the Iowa Watercolor Society and has exhibited as part of the Iowa Watercolor Society juried show. Her watercolors have been exhibited at venues throughout the region including the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinic’s Project Art, the Clinton Art Gallery, the Quad-City Botanical Center’s Invitational Art Show, the Muscatine County Fine Arts Exhibition, the Mississippi Valley Welcome Center in LeClaire, the “Women at Work” exhibition at Augustana College, the Muscatine Art Center, Musser Public Library, Geneva Golf & Country Club, and the Moline Public Library.
Steinmetz has taught adult education art classes for Muscatine Community College, completed a large commission for Muscatine County, designed covers for local publications, and has introduced many children to the joys of watercolor painting. Her works of art are held in private, public, and corporate collections.
Steinmetz’s talents have been shared with many regional and local arts-based organizations and other nonprofits. She helped to establish a local art gallery cooperative and has held numerous offices and performed many duties. She served on the Artists Advisory Committee for the Figge Museum of Art in Davenport. Her paintings have been donated to help raise funds for regional philanthropic causes.
Her drive to create continues, and she has expanded into other mediums such as paper making. The exhibition, “Carol Steinmetz: An Artist’s Spectrum”, provides an overview of her artwork to-date. Her personal journey as an artist continues with great joy and enthusiasm.
The Muscatine Art Center is located at 1314 Mulberry Avenue in Muscatine, Iowa. Hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Thursday evenings until 7:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Admission is free. Donations are appreciated.
