CityView Magazine

42 | March/April 2015 subject of the painting into the natural coloration of its background. And Deramo liked the piece so much that he recently commissioned his first piece of Caroline Merino Art, a custom rendition of a North Carolina deer that he hit in a car accident back in December. "I'm grateful to be alive," he said reflectively. e piece not only pays tribute to the deer he killed, but also serves as a re- minder of his faith. "People are going to ask, 'Where did you get that?'" he said. "at's a good story. And I think true art tells a story." Caroline Merino's story began at an early age. And her talent was apparent even then, she said. But, other than a private tutor her grandmother hired for her when she was six, her training has been primarily through her art teach- ers at school. "Attending 15 different schools means I've had 15 different art teachers," she said. "And when you have that variety, you get taught different perspectives and lessons." Merino said she still uses some of the techniques she learned growing up. And while she has experience in several me- diums, she specializes in watercolor and acrylics, with her earlier styles mimick- ing the famous artists she studied. "First it was pop art, then it was impression- ism; now, I don't know what it is—as long as it has some texture," she said, describing the progression of her art. Examples of her early acrylic paint- ings include playful interpretations of animals, dogs in particular, that pop with contrasting bright colors. Merino says she draws inspiration from her friends' and family's pets, but will paint on commission for anyone who wants a portrait of their own fur-baby. Com- memorative watercolor paintings of Fayetteville are also among her collec- tion. But her framed miniature paint- ings and festive holiday ornaments are most impressive. "I love the process of art—painting," she said. "When I see color go onto a blank canvas, it's awe- some to me." Merino compares the process of her most recent, natural style to cleaning her room, "Watching a painting go from Merino's art displayed at City Center Gallery & Books

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