If there is one local artist whose signature style is instantly recognizable, that individual is Chevy Chase resident Carol Dyer. Her acrylic paintings combine nostalgia for an earlier time in America with a distinct attention to detail. They are widely praised for their unique precision, charm, and color. Her subjects include landmarks and seaports across the country.
Born in Boston, Carol took art classes at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. After moving to Maryland and with her three children in school, she began painting in the 1960’s for relaxation and fulfillment. She then started painting unique folk-art designs on signs for friends and neighbors. By the mid-1970’s she decided to focus on painting professionally, working all day, seven days a week.
Originally, Carol’s work depicted the beaches of Delaware: Bethany, Lewes, and Rehoboth, scenes so familiar to Washingtonians. During an exhibition of her art at the Rehoboth Art League, she met Washington entrepreneur Dr. Ralph Jones, who collected her landscapes and whom she calls her mentor. She then created a series of paintings of the nation’s capital labeled the “Splendor of Washington” series, which includes depictions of the Capitol, the White House, and the National Mall as they appeared at the turn of the century. The Washington series celebrated most national holidays, including the "Washington Christmas Series". These renderings have commanded significant audiences who purchase her prints, holiday cards, jigsaw puzzles, calendars, posters, and even Christmas tree ornaments.
Not content to focus on just the mid-Atlantic, she expanded her images to include New England and countless maritime vistas across the country. Charming and detailed depictions of Rocky Mountain Lodge and the city dock at Mystic Seaport are examples of her range and eye for unique locales. The Mystic Seaport Museum commissioned her to paint the “Port Cities Collection” as a long-term project. In 2004, the Museum published a beautiful hardcover book of her work titled “Album of American Traditions,” which includes the history behind her paintings.
The Port Cities Collection added a new dimension to her art and enabled her to travel the country, visiting famous seaports and painting them as she envisioned them appearing to previous generations. One of these paintings, Old Baltimore Harbor, is a scene from around 1900 with historical references to steamships, schooners, and waterfront businesses. Dyer’s work also captured other well-known seaports, including Annapolis, Charleston, and Savannah.
Her paintings have been sold in specialty shops, galleries, and museum shops, including the Smithsonian, the Library of Congress, and Mount Vernon.
Although Carol no longer sells her original artwork-- she is saving what she has left for her family -- art lovers can purchase her drawings as prints or giclées, a reproduction of paintings using a high-quality inkjet printer to make individual copies. According to Carol, “Sixty-five percent of galleries now sell giclées.” Finally, when asked what she wants readers of Chevy Chase Lifestyle to know about her, she simply says: “I just want to share my art.”
To purchase artwork, visit Carol’s website at www.caroldyerartwork.com; please specify the title or image you are interested in, as well as the quantity.
Prints and Christmas cards are also available by contacting McBride Gallery of Annapolis: 410-267-7077, or by emailing cynthia@mcbridegallery.com.
I just want to share my art.