Sean Carney is a prolific painter. He paints what he knows, the towns he lives in, the shore and the places he has visited. His paintings are honest, familiar and approachable. He uses a wood stain method which he perfected himself. He uses bright colors and tweaks the perspective a little. He looks at things from a little different angle.
Carney teaches art at Lawrence High School. He is also one of the hardest working artists I know. Carney is also known to be a burger aficionado.
What are you communicating with your art?
My paintings are all about positive energy and fond memories. I find it therapeutic to focus on the good times in life and revisit these moments through my paintings.
You work in an unconventional media, please briefly explain the process.
I create my paintings using only Minwax water-based wood stain and sometimes a Dremel engraving tool. I have painted with just about every medium and Minwax stain is by far my favorite, it is just so wonderfully versatile. I honestly can’t imagine painting with anything else.
How did you get started with this method as opposed to conventional oil or acrylic painting?
I have always had the desire to create with alternative mediums. I have worked in restaurants since the age of 15 and I used to create paintings with coffee, tea, and eventually wine. I had a professor at New Jersey City University (Ray Stadtlander) who used to say “if it stains your teeth, it will stain the paper.” Now I paint solely using Minwax water-based wood stain, which I discovered while doing some home remodeling about 13 years ago.
What fight/struggle do you have regarding your art?
The Art World can be an exciting and rewarding environment, but it can also punch you in the face sometimes. You have to have the mettle to take a beating and keep on moving, no thin skin allowed. I hate hearing that famous statistic that only 1% make it in the Art World, I think that phrase creates a self-fulfilling prophecy. Who knows, 98% might just give up after a few rejections.
How often do you paint?
I would say I paint between 3 and 5 hours a day about 340 days a year. I think that is a very fair estimate.
Have you done any commissions locally?
My biggest Hamilton commission was for Robert Wood Johnson Better Health Center 2021. I created a painting of the interior of the new construction and did a live painting session to complete the painting for their grand opening.
I also recently completed a commission for a lifelong Hamilton family of Joseph Slavin Jr. for his 91st birthday.
Your colors are so vivid. Do you see the world in these brilliant colors?
I think my colors are just a reflection of how I feel, I tend to be a pretty positive person. Life is beautiful.
Where can we see your work?
Currently my work can be seen at The Atrium Gallery in Morristown as a part of Morris Arts, at The Euphemia Gallery of Spring Lake, at The Spectrum Gallery, Essex, Connecticut, and online at The Shops at Princeton Magazine and my website.
What is most fun about being an artist?
I feel that the process of painting is like a form of meditation, I believe that this is what leads to my overall positive feeling.
What is the most satisfying about teaching high school art?
The best part of teaching is getting to meet all of these wonderful people, I have never had a student I didn’t like. Some of my students are in their 40s now, so it is a pleasure to see them grow into adults.
Where are the best burgers in the area?
My family and I love to go out for burgers, we really like Rossi’s and the Brookwood Café for burgers.
What is on the horizon? What are you looking forward to?
I have some great shows coming up that I am pretty excited about. I will be returning to the D&R Greenway Land Trust in Princeton for an upcoming exhibition titled “Space to Dream” in March. I also have a two-person show planned for 2023 at The Taplin Gallery at The Arts Council of Princeton and a three-person exhibition at The James May Gallery in Milwaukee Wisconsin. I am pretty sure that some more exhibitions will pop up as well, I like to make myself very available.
Sean Carney on Facebook: seancarneynj. Instagram: carneystudios.
Hamilton artist Sean Carney with some of his works of art.,
