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PrintArtist spotlight: painter Carol Hagan
Carol Hagan's striking and vibrant subjects come to life on canvas.
Carol Hagan wasn't always a painter. An accounting major in college, she started her own graphic design company 23 years ago, and you can see her prior experience in the striking and vibrant way she portrays her subjects on canvas. But she doesn't regret the career change.
Headstrong Griz, oil on panel
"Many people could and should be artists, but they are too afraid," Hagan says. "It's sad. It doesn't matter if you don't have schooling, it comes from within."
Today, Hagan lives and works near Billings, Montana. Her husband — her best friend and business partner — manages the business-side of things, leaving her free to paint and create.
Spending much of her life in Montana has allowed Hagan to nurture a deep love of the West.
"The fascinating history, stunning landscapes, and the people and animals who inhabit the West are all subjects that find their way into much of my current work," she says.
Along with her many other achievements, Hagan's work was included in the 40th annual C.M. Russell Art Auction, and she was also invited to participate in the Cowgirl Up! Art from the Other Half of the West Exhibition & Sale at the Desert Caballeros Western Museum in Wickenburg, Arizona.
Hagan is honored that her work is now included in galleries with artists she admires, but she sometimes wonders where she might have been if she had pursued fine art from the beginning of her career.
But instead of dwelling on the what-ifs, she is thankful that she finally picked up a paintbrush and started painting.
"Life is good," says Hagan. "I'm so glad I followed my heart."
Galleries
• Big Horn Galleries, Cody, Wyoming, 307.527.7587, and Tubac, Arizona, 520.398.9209, www.bighorngalleries.com
• Legacy Gallery, Scottsdale, Arizona, 480.945.8818, and Jackson, Wyoming, 307.739.9606, www.legacygallery.com
• Legends, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 505.983.5639, www.legendssantafe.com
• Visions West Galleries, Livingston, Montana, 406.222.0337, Bozeman, Montana, 406.522.9946; and Denver, Colorado, 303.292.0909, www.visionswestgallery.com
