Carla O'Connor has worked extensively with all media, from oil to pastel, but eventually found her love in gouache. O'Connor believes every medium is capable of saying something different. Gouache was the one that finally spoke truest to her. With gouache O'Connor creates shapes (she's a self described "shape maker,") using the human form as her guide. As an artist, O'Connor focuses on design. Many of her workshops focus on incorporating design principles into students' work. O'Connor's art world extends far beyond her canvas. She has become a much sought-after workshop instructor and has taught all over the world. She has served on juries for prestigious national and international exhibitions, including shows for the American Watercolor Society, the National Watercolor Society, and the Adirondacks International Exhibition of American Watercolors.

Carla O'Connor has one DVD, "Figure Design in Gouache," with Creative Catalyst productions.

Carla O'Connor received her BFA in painting from Kent State University, Kent, Ohio. She has done additional formal study at the University of the Americas, Mexico City; University of Dayton, Ohio; and the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.

Juried Exhibitions and Awards (Partial List)

*American Watercolor Society International Exhibition 1991 (Prize and Traveling Exhibit), 1996, 1997 (Silver Medal of Honor and Traveling Exhibit), 1998, 1999 and 2002 (Prize), 2004 (Prize). * National Watercolor Society Annual Exhibition: 1996, 1997 (Prize and Traveling Exhibit), 1998 (Traveling Exhibit), 2004. * NWWS National Exhibitions: 1992 (1st Place Award), 1993 (1st Place Award), 1994 (Prize), 1995, 1996 (Prize), 1997 (Prize), 1998 (1st Place Award) and 1999 (Prize), NWWS 60th Year Exhibition, Frye Art Museum, Seattle, 2000. * Rocky Mountain National Watermedia Exhibition, 1998. * San Diego International Watercolor Exhibits, 1988 (Prize), 1989, 1990, 1992 (Prize), 1995, 1996. Juror Experience (Partial List) * O’Connor has been a juror for numerous national and regional groups including the American Watercolor Society, the National Watercolor Society, the Northwest Watercolor Society, Watercolor Art Society - Houston, the Arizona Watercolor Association, and the Watercolor Societies of Florida and San Diego, the Adirondacks International Exhibition of American Watercolors, the Federation of Canadian Artists Exhibition, The Artist Magazine competition, Experimental Category, and the Mississippi Grand National Exhibition.

Publications (Partial List)

*Carla's work appeared in "Splash5 - The Glory of Color " published by Northlight Books and "Exploring Color " by Nita Leland. She was among the artists featured in "Creativity - What Inspires 5 Top Painters," The Artists Magazine, Oct. 1998; "What Is Abstract Art," International Artist Magazine, Oct.-Nov. 1998; and Watercolor Expressions, Rockport Press 1999. Her article, "The Mark of Experience," appeared in the August/September 2000 issue of International Artist Magazine and her work was included in "When Figures Emerge " in the Winter 2001 issue of Watercolor Magazine. Carla also contributed to "Charting a New Course in Watercolor" written by Joanne Moore in the September 2001 issue of The Artist's Magazine, "Launching A Workshop-Teaching Career" by Beth Patterson in the Fall 2002 issue of Watercolor Magazine and to “ From the Inside Out,” June, 2004 issue of Watercolor Magic Magazine.