Carol Simmons was born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, but has lived in Columbus, Ohio; Dallas, Texas, and Charleston, South Carolina. She currently lives and works in Arlington, Texas. Simmons received a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics, with a minor in computer science, from Southern University in Baton Rouge. After a long career in computer programming, she returned to college and earned a Bachelor of Art degree in studio art from the College of Charleston. She has been painting professionally since 2001.
Creating has always been an important part of Simmons’s life. Her personal interests and experiences serve as inspiration for her artwork. A love of color and texture began with her first creative outlet, which was sewing. She enjoys experimenting with different mediums and techniques and often incorporates fabric as a design element in her paintings. Most of her work is figurative and objective, but she also explores mixed media painting in an abstract or non-objective style to create images that express ideas, concepts, and feelings.
Simmons developed an interest in the Gullah culture while living in Charleston. An assignment in a painting class which focused on daily life in Charleston was the beginning of her South Carolina Low-country series. These paintings celebrate the unique and enduring culture of the Gullah people. Her work has been shown in group and solo exhibitions and is included in private and corporate collections, and she has received a number of grants and awards for her paintings and photography.
www.carolasimmons.com
