MEET Carol McQuaid
artist | EDUCATOR | AUTHOR
I’m Carol, an artist and self-professed vagabond who loves to create art, travel, teach, and share space and time with people. I’ve been showing in galleries and teaching watercolour painting and printmaking around the globe for a several decades.
My art career began when I started to sketch as a hobby. Previously I had been in sales and marketing, and then got my degree in interior design. This introduction to design sparked something within me that led to the pursuit and love of art as my craft.
The drawings shown on this site are done by hand through various art methods. Some are done with pencil, pens and paint brushes. Some with an Apple Pencil on my iPad (which is not an app). Some works are from being in the moment and painting live, some are commissioned from photography clients share with me, or created from photographs I’ve captured throughout my life.
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— Carol
the artist
Through design school I found I had an aptitude for drawing. I liked the way it felt putting hand to paper and wanted to explore more ways to do that. I started delving into different forms and expressions and found a sweet spot when I discovered water colour and oils painting. It was an extension to my passion for sketching and illustration and a way to complete the visuals I was observing.
When my son was born, I was a young single Mom making ends meet when I discovered that I had a talent for portrait painting and started doing commissioned works as a way to support us. As the years progressed, my son grew and I became freer to follow my passions for travelling which I combined with my artistic pursuits.
For me the art is not just about one particular method, or just what ends up on the paper. It’s about what I truly enjoy about being an artist — the act of really observing. It’s a meditation. I love it and it brings me great joy.
What began as a CURIOUSITY has evolved into A LIFESTYLE. I’M proud of where I’VE been and even more excited for what’s ahead.
What sets MY WORK apart isn’t THE process—it’s the intention behind it. I take time to understand, explore, and create with purpose at every OPPORTUNITY. — CAROL MCQUAID
the ILLUSTRATED vagabond
Travelling has brought me many great adventures and I love it as a lifestyle. The spontaneity of life on the road exhilarates me, and I never tire of it.
I am proudly Canadian, but I spend much of my time abroad painting, sketching, teaching and writing. I get invited on cruise ships to teach watercolour and printmaking workshops, which gives me a great opportunity to travel all parts of the globe. I also do workshops and artist-in-residence experiences, and travel for commissioned work, live painting at weddings, travel writing and more.
I love to draw when I travel, especially on location. It is my way of creating a visual journal of the people and places I am experiencing. It used to be in little sketchbooks, some of which I’d make by hand. Now it’s mostly on my iPad, using Procreate as it is so portable and easy to pull out when I see an opportunity to capture a moment.
the AUTHOR
My journal and story writing is also done by an actual human, me. I understand there’s a growing use of AI in the industry, but I truly hope it doesn’t replace real human creativity and effort. That would be a tragedy, and would sadden me if people lost the ability to communicate artistically and imperfectly. For that is what makes humanity so beautiful to observe.
I earn a living through my Art, but it isn’t just a business—it’s a reflection of what I believe in. To create works that matter, led by a heart that embraces creativity, individuality, commitment to the craft, caring and respect for people and the incredible world we live in.
