"My most recent body of work is composed of large gestural drawings done in charcoal and pastel. They employ distortion and exaggeration in a way that is similar to a caricature. I think they can best be described as character portraits. I begin each piece with a blind contour drawing, and then develop it according to the length of the pose and the energy, emotion and personality of my sitter.

For me drawing is a finished medium rather than solely a vehicle for preliminary studies. Part of the reason for this is dictated by my process which allows me to capture the moment rather than focusing on the academics of portraiture.

I enjoy the feel of charcoal and take advantage of its tactile properties in depicting sensual aspects of my models. Charcoal is completely responsive in heightening emotional states… mine and the model’s."

Biography

Carol Benisatto is a local artist, currently residing in Putnam Valley, NY. She has a degree in Advertising Art & Design, and has also conducted her studies at several well known art institutes, including; The Stevenson Academy of Art in Seacliff, The Long Island Art League, formerly The Huntington Township Art League, and The Nassau County Museum of Art. She is currently studying the figure with Maija Veide at The Katonah Art Center.

She is a member of Viridian Artists @ Chelsea, where she is Vice President and a member of the Board of Directors.

Her most recent work is a collection of unusual character portraits. For the most part, her media is charcoal and pastel, but has also been showing work in acrylic and watercolor. Currently she is exhibiting at Viridian Artists @ Chelsea, and a number of locations in Putnam and Westchester County, including The Paint Box in Bedford Hills, and The Flatiron Gallery in Peekskill. Her work is in private collections in San Francisco, Virginia, Florida, Montana, New Jersey and New York.