Charlotte Rollman - Artist

 

Charlotte Rollman

My professional painting career began around the time that I received one of the first BFA’s earned from Murray State University in Kentucky in 1969, followed by an MFA from University of Illinois 1971. And after 30 years of teaching painting, I am an emeritus Professor of Art from Northern Illinois University.

My color training came from working as a textile artist in New York City and Chicago (1976-1988). After retiring from NIU, I moved to the Smoky Mountains so I could paint outside in every season of the year. 

I have painted and drawn for as long as I can remember. I was shy when I was young, so art was my way of communicating. Teaching for many years cured my shyness, and most people would never believe I was once an introvert! Now, one of my favorite things I get to do is to talk about my art at the Adkins Rollman Gallery in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, but I love to create my paintings even more.

While I work outside painting, I am transported mentally, spiritually, and physically, as nature communicates to me. The act of painting pulls me into an abstract world and the nature around me reveals itself on my canvas as I interpret the colors. My final brush marks clarify the subject I am experiencing. My audience enjoys my work from a distance, but as you take an up-close look at my completed painting, my love of color is revealed. The best part of my life as an artist has been finding myself in my work, and I hope the viewers can see that too.