Franklin artist Carolyn Beehler’s impressionistic works of art are created not just for viewing but also to “invite the eye to look closer.” Her ‘paper paintings’ resemble oil paintings, yet upon closer inspection, one can see the thousands of intricately scissored and layered pieces of paper carefully culled from numerous magazines, mimicking the brush strokes found on oil paintings. Words, images, and other oddities introduce an element of surprise to her works.
Born in California but raised in Franklin, Beehler always had an interest in art. During her junior year at O’More College of Design, Beehler took an Altered Books class. She realized her interests and abilities aligned less with graphic design and more with fine art and she began focusing on paper as a medium for her art. “I really enjoy painting and drawing but I really love paper and working with paper. The collage stuff I was seeing wasn't so great. I always thought paper could be pushed further.” After graduation, Beehler completed a design internship in Shanghai, farm-hopped across Italy, created a fashion portfolio in California, and
honed her skills in Bloomington, Indiana, before returning to Franklin.
“It took years to figure out how to work with paper and to find my style,” states Beehler. “Paper painting is much more laborious than painting with paints. There are more calculations to be made which is why it is so much slower.”
Refusing to use materials other than paper and glue, the process from inception to completion often takes more than 100 hours. Working from photographs she has taken or been provided, Beehler creates a 1”x1” grid on her canvas, maps out the rough sketch, and starts building the foundation for her work. She adds solid blocks of colors and builds on top of that, spending days, weeks, and frequently months, layering paper to “create microcosms you don't get with paint. The texture is embedded in it!” she exclaims.
Her first collection, Frolics in Italy, was followed up with images she captured while in China. Once settled back in Franklin, Beehler challenged herself to see her hometown in a new light. What she could not foresee were the changes COVID-19 brought to Franklin. With her third series, “Unprecedented: Franklin During the Pandemic,” Beehler has created a historical timestamp with Franklin as the backdrop.
Beehler’s work has been featured in the Nashville International Airport and is enjoyed by purchasers around the country. If you are interested in seeing additional works created by Beehler or commissioning a one-of-a-kind piece of art, visit CarolynBeehler.com