Fort Yargo. Carey Watson, artist
By Gina Malone
Carey Watson’s mother moved with him and his brother to Atlanta when he was four. “I grew up in a regular, 9-to-5, blue-collar neighborhood just minutes from downtown,” he says. “Growing up in Atlanta was a rich tapestry of experiences shaped by the city’s vibrant culture, history and diversity. Atlanta is often called ‘the heart of the South’, and it lives up to that moniker with a unique blend of Southern hospitality, modernity and sense of community.” His childhood was one of exploration and creativity, and there were artists—his father and an aunt—on both sides of the family.
Oscar. Carey Watson, artist
In the early 1990s, he began working at Abstein Gallery, one of Atlanta’s largest contemporary galleries, with nearly 50 artists represented in 16,000 square feet. “This was my first real exposure to fine art,” Watson says. “I was young and pretty green, starting out in the fitting department, framing pieces of art.” By the mid-‘90s, he was showing—and selling—his own work. “It was there that I was introduced to so many successful artists,” he says. “I could not have had a better springboard for my career as an artist.”
The gallery’s owner, Paul Abstein, encouraged him to pursue painting after seeing some of Watson’s doodles on napkins in the break room. “I remember bringing in an orange that I had rendered in pastel, excited for him to see,” Watson says. “I mean, it was an exact replica of an orange. Paul looked at it for maybe five seconds and said, ‘Well that certainly looks like an orange, but does it feel like an orange?” as he handed it back to me. What a great moment of insight that would resonate deep inside of me.” After that nuanced bit of advice, he dove into abstracts and became one of the gallery’s top-selling artists.
In 2005, he and his wife Bekah opened a gallery in midtown Atlanta, specializing in conservation framing and representing more than 40 artists. By 2021, they were ready to downsize a bit and decided to open a smaller gallery in Winder, GA. “While we’ve scaled back our artist roster to focus on regional talent and my own work, we still have the same passion for framing and for supporting artists,” Watson says. “One of our twin sons, Taylor, now works with us as a talented designer and framer, while his brother Jayke lives and works in Atlanta. And, of course, our Golden Retrievers, Molly and Sophie, join us at the shop every day.”
Nubian Goat. Carey Watson, artist
Over the past 20 years, Watson, self-taught as an artist, has transitioned from abstracts with bold colors and whimsical Dr. Seuss-inspired pastels to paintings of nature and animals. “I do not limit myself to one style or subject,” he says. “Art is about exploring new ways of creating and using various materials to put that image or feeling inside your head on paper before it morphs into something else or fades away.”
He works on multiple paintings at a time as the inspiration moves him. “Currently I have a half-finished still life with flowers, a large colorful abstract and a trio of goats,” he says. “I’ll go back and forth with these paintings using acrylic to quickly capture the moment and finish them in oils or acrylics.”
Maple. Carey Watson, artist
Lately, he has become interested in alla prima (at first attempt), or wet-on-wet, painting. “Learning to loosen up and create a painting in one sitting is challenging,” he says. “It teaches me to not be so focused on the exact proportions, but more on the feeling of a fleeting moment.”
He finds inspiration in the natural world, hiking or kayaking when not painting in his home studio. “The beauty of the outdoors has always amazed me,” he says. “From vibrant sunsets and lush forests to the intricate details in flowers, nature’s palette is endless.”
There are challenges as well, he admits. “There are moments of pure flow when creativity bursts forth effortlessly, but there are also times of frustration and self-doubt,” he says. “Every brushstroke carries the weight of intention and vulnerability, as art is often a reflection of the artist’s inner world. Ultimately, being an artist means embracing the journey and finding beauty in both creation and exploration. Understanding that each piece is a step in a lifelong quest of self-discovery. It’s about capturing moments and emotions, leaving a mark on the world, however big or small.”
For more about Carey Watson’s art, visit FrameMakers.art, and Instagram @cwatsonsart and @framemakers.art. Find his work regionally at Red Wolf Gallery, 8 East Main Street, Brevard. Learn more at RedWolfGalleryNC.com.
