Community Corner

Art Appreciation: Trinity Church Hosts 'Affordable Art' Show

Monthly program features Carolann Garafola's slightly re-imagined landscapes.

Looking at Carolann Garafola's acrylic paintings of familiar sights in Warren is to see those sights in miniature.

And sometimes, with the sun setting to the east.

"I'm not creative, in terms of coming up with something in my head," Garafola, currently deputy mayor for Warren Township, told a group of Trinity United Church members Sunday. "But I'm really good at copying."

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Garafola came to painting through photography, so she said she usually photographs a scene before painting it—with a couple of caveats. She told the audience she has been influenced by the work of 19th Century landscape artist Frederic Church.

Garafola showed copies of Church's work, pointing out the vivid sunset skies that attracted her eye. Then, she showed how she used the colors in sunsets in her own work ... 

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"I sort of took artist's license as far as where the sun set," she admitted.

Garafola took up painting several years ago, taking lessons from her husband, Ralph Garafola. She said he has told her a student's work should never look like the teacher's—"And in my case, it doesn't," she joked.

Calling her collection affordable art because of its small sizes and low prices, Garafola did add the proceeds from the sale of any of the pieces will be donated to the church.

Sunday marked the third year Garafola has shown her paintings at Trinity United Church, which features an artist each month through most of the year. Her work is on display in the main hall through the end of the month.


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