2013
Splitting her time between Hawaii and California, Carol Bennett (b. 1954) has mastered the art of capturing movement in her enigmatic paintings.
While Bennett has garnered praise for the meditative sensibility that characterizes her paintings as well as a bold use of bright colors, some of her works are more famous than others. In fact, her “Women in Water” series is perhaps her most well-known collection. As its name implies, the series features women swimming. They’re captured from an underwater perspective, and their faces are either out of frame entirely or obscured by the sun-dappled surface of the water, which serves as a showcase for Bennett’s portrayal of the qualities of sunlight. The upper half of each painting is flecked with the blues and greens of the ocean as well as whatever color the subject’s bathing suit happens to be.
The series originated with Bennett sketching swimmers at an athletic club’s pool in Los Angeles, but as her process evolved, her husband, Wayne Zebzda, began to film the artist on her daily swim on Kauai. The resultant images inform her work, but she doesn’t consider these works to be depictions of her in particular.
“I swim seven days a week, and while I don’t consider them self-portraits, I am the swimmer in the paintings,” Bennett has said.
Given her constant proximity to the ocean, it’s no surprise that Bennett is inspired by water’s glassy properties, citing its presence as both “a mirror and then a window.” Her radiant paintings, whether she’s working with oil and shellac on paper or wood panels, allow her to explore sunlight in such a rich and provocative way that it’s as if she endeavors to suspend rays of light above the water’s surface, making them seem as tangible and physical as the swimmers themselves.
Aside from her works that hang on the walls of galleries and museums around the world, Bennett has also painted murals and even a 48-foot photovoltaic solar canopy for the Hawaii State Art Museum Sculpture Garden.
Find Carol Bennett’s paintings on 1stDibs.
Waterfall Duet 2, Water, Gold, White, Flowing, Acrylic, Oil, Painting, unframed
By Carol Bennett
Located in Riverdale, NY
Waterfall Duet 2 is an original waterfall painting by Hawaii artist Carol Bennett. It is reminiscent of the beautiful flowing waterfalls throughout the Hawaiian islands. It is Acry...
Varnish, Oil, Acrylic, Board
Fish Study, painting, Reverse painting on glass gold leaf, oil, cobalt, water
By Carol Bennett
Located in Riverdale, NY
Fish Study by Hawaii artist Carol Bennett is a reverse painting on glass artwork. It is Oil, Varnish, Gold Leaf and powdered Cobalt. It is 9x12. Carol Bennett's artwork is a meditative journey through both the water and through life. She is one of the few artists to truly capture what it's like to be in and moving and swimming through the water. For Carol, the act of swimming underwater is similar to the process of painting. Her approach results in multi-layered surfaces that are intricate and textured and unexpected. She is constantly experimenting with her pieces: adding, subtracting, sanding. When she is not painting Swimmers, she is capturing the fish surrounding her. She has created over 100 large public and corporate commissions internationally, and is in private collections around the world. Carol Bennett was recently currently featured in two exhibits at the Honolulu Museum of Art. Networking and Water: Carol Bennett featuring female swimmers, as well as marine nets floating or submerged in water. Bennett was also part of the group exhibit Making Waves highlighting the important role of women artists in the museum’s contemporary collection. In this show, the works by international and Hawaii-based artists all have a relationship to water. Featured artists also included: April Gornik, Agnes Martin, Judy Pfaff, Kiki Smith and Pat Steir! Elisa Contemporary Art...
Gold Leaf
Generous, Abstract, Oil, Graphite, Wood Panel, Yellow, Black, White
By Rose Umerlik
Located in Riverdale, NY
Generous by Rose Umerlik is an abstract painting, Oil and Graphite on wood panel, 48 x 36. This is part of a new 2022 series. According to Umerlik, " I became a mother this past ye...
Oil, Wood Panel, Graphite
Europa 21, Abstract, Black and White, Painting, Acrylic, Wood
By Stephanie Cate
Located in Riverdale, NY
Europa 21 by Los Angeles artist Stephanie Cate is Acrylic on Wood Panel. It is 48x36. It is a strong, impactful Black and White painting. The black, white and green abstraction ...
Acrylic, Wood Panel
Europa 22, Abstract Art, Black and White Painting, Bold, Acrylic, Original Art
By Stephanie Cate
Located in Riverdale, NY
Europa 22 by California artist Stephanie Cate is Acrylic on Wood Panel. It is 48x36. It is a bold Black and White Painting. The black, white and green abstraction explores the Moo...
Acrylic, Wood Panel
Liquid Landscape 060708, Waterscape, Mixed Media, Blues, Original Art
By Kimber Berry
Located in Riverdale, NY
Liquid Landscape 628-060708 by Kimber Berry is a mixed media painting on canvas. It is 36x60. This is a vibrant layered, dimensional contemporary painting. It is filled with a w...
Mixed Media, Acrylic, Photographic Paper
Golden waterfalls, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
By Ivana Olbricht
Located in Yardley, PA
An original one of a kind original palette knife abstract landscape. Inspired by endless beauty of nature, rocky mountains, waterfalls, sunset. Warm earthy tones with golden, a...
Acrylic
Mystical Waterfall Acrylic Painting, Contemporary Unframed Art
By Timothy Mulligan
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Timothy Mulligan's "Mystical Waterfall" is a captivating geometric abstraction that reimagines the elegance of a flowing waterfall. The artwork features angular, layered forms that e...
Acrylic
Pixie Willoughby, Waterfall II, Original Abstract Painting, Affordable Art
By Pixie Willoughby
Located in Deddington, GB
Waterfall II [2021] Original Abstract Acrylic on canvas Complete Size of Unframed Work: H:61 cm x W:61 cm x D:1cm Sold Unframed Please note that insitu images are purely an indicatio...
Canvas, Acrylic
'Waterfalls' - Vibrant Contemporary Fluid Abstract Painting in Blue and Yellow
By Lori Poncsak
Located in Carmel, CA
Lori Poncsak (American, born 1960) "Waterfalls" 2024 Acrylic Paint, Canvas, Stretcher Bars The artist signed the back of the painting. 'Waterfalls' by Lori Poncsak is a mesmerizing ...
Canvas, Acrylic
Gold Rush, Painting, Acrylic on Canvas
By Ansgar Dressler
Located in Yardley, PA
Here’s a XX-large horisonta piece that comes in colors of umbra brown, a wide variety of yellow tones, and a band of golden nuggets at the top. A very rich and warming piece for yo...
Acrylic
Waterfall II with Acrylic on Canvas, Painting by Pixie Willoughby
By Pixie Willoughby
Located in Deddington, GB
Waterfall II by Pixie Willoughby [2021] Pixie Willoughby, The wonders of waterfalls - the way the water washes and waves and cascades through ever changing colours. Additional info...
Canvas
