California-based painter Carole Boller doesn’t just create art; she invites viewers into a world shaped by curiosity, emotion, and fearless color. Her journey as an artist began long before she ever held a brush with intention. As a child, she explored the world through texture, line, and color, drawing on paper, tracing shapes in the sand, even sketching in the snow. That insatiable curiosity became the foundation of a lifelong creative path.
“I don’t remember being labeled an artist as a small child,” Carole recalls. “I was simply inquisitive, creating and dreaming. Over time, school and teachers gave me the label. It was a gradual, defining evolution.”
One of her earliest and most profound influences was her grandmother, De Young. During a time when Carole’s mother was ill, she lived with her grandmother, who nurtured her imagination without boundaries. Coloring outside the lines was encouraged. Any color was the right color. Days were spent wandering through a lush flower garden, gathering bouquets and learning, above all else, to live with “no rules” except respect for oneself and others. That freedom still echoes through Carole’s expressive and painterly work today.
Inspiration continues the moment she steps into her studio. “Walking in, seeing and smelling its essence,” she says, is enough to ignite creativity, even on days when inspiration feels elusive.
“I don’t remember being labeled an artist as a small child,” Carole recalls. “I was simply inquisitive, creating and dreaming.”
Carole’s paintings explore passion, communication, and virtuosity, always striving for work that feels alive, powerful, and meaningful. When asked about a favorite piece, her answer is immediate: “The one that’s presently on the easel.” For her, the most meaningful work is always the one still unfolding.
Carole discovered the Sawdust Art Festival soon after moving from Chicago to Southern California in 2000. Visiting year after year, she was drawn to the high-energy atmosphere and the camaraderie of artists and visitors alike. In 2018, she officially joined the festival as an exhibiting artist.
“Being a Sawdust artist means stepping out of my studio and connecting with people from all walks of life,” she shares. “Working in my booth is a challenge, wearing the artist’s hat and the business hat at the same time can give you a bit of a head spin, but it’s exhilarating.”
The Sawdust community has provided her with a deep sense of belonging, and the visitor interactions are unforgettable. One of her favorite moments involved a young boy, about five years old, who ran up to one of her large paintings, arms outstretched, shouting, “Oh WOW!” Luckily, her phone was in hand, a photo capturing a moment worth a thousand words.
Each painting carries its own story, waiting to be discovered. “To take pleasure in and experience significance,” she says, is what she hopes her audience finds.
And her advice for festival visitors?
“Take the time to really look at the art. Be curious. Be inquisitive.”
