Carollyne Yardley, Focus Magazine, Feb 2013 issue. Photo by Tony Bounsall.

Carollyne  is infamously known as the Painter of Squirrels using a technique called, Squirrealism, which often can arise from Squirrel Bombing.

Raised in Victoria, British Columbia, Carollyne Yardley completed two years in the Visual Arts Department, Faculty of Fine Arts, and is a graduate of the University of Victoria, where she completed a Double Major in Psychology and History in Art. Most recently, she has taken art classes at the Victoria College of Art and studied with Tony Ryder at The Ryder Studio School in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

From 1997 – 2010, she was the founder, business owner and creative director of a software application & web development company which provided her with a strong foundation in the visual communications industry.

I view art and conceptual design as a process of thinking, creating, problem-solving, and communicating, says Carollyne.

She cites a wide, ecclectic range of influences that inspire her work not just Dali, Mark Ryden, Ray Caesar, Todd Schorr, Heather Watts, Ron English, Noah Becker, Yayoi Kusama, Cecil Beaton, Pop Surrealism, Boucher, Fragonard, and Ingres, but also Lucille Ball, Elaine from Seinfeld, Wonder Woman, Elvis Presley, and helicopter rides.

In April 2008, Carollyne launched her new business as a visual artist, and began painting full time by September 2010. It is then, she began to remove the mask of technology to emerge as her true self, standing with her hands on her hips, yelling and laughing at the squirrels in her yard.

She lives in Victoria, BC, with her husband.

ARTIST STATEMENT

I am a storyteller at heart, and my work is based on imaginary, characters; misfits and alienation. Or perhaps an alien nation.  I am currently exploring character development through portraiture.  The squirrel face is a metaphor* for the secrets we keep.  My work also incorporates allegory and surrealism to portray psychological truths and complexities about the human condition.

Professionally, I spent 14 years in the technology industry ,working beside programmers, creating conceptual and graphic design, and visual communications tools for hundreds of organizations. As a result, I’m interested in observing first impressions based on clothing, hairstyles and presentation. We tend to identify people or businesses based on their “brand” or outward appearance. By stripping my paintings of an identifiable human face, the viewer is forced to contemplate who or what the personality of the entity would be like. For instance, people will speculate they think one of my “squirrels” is a boy or a girl, regardless of clothing or hairstyle accoutrements. I try not to comment, because it’s what they feel about a character that is interesting to me.

CURRENT POSITIONS

2008  Present, Painter
2007  Present, Founder, Blogger, Carollyne Yardley Omnimedia

EDUCATION

University of Victoria, Faculty of Fine Arts, Visual Arts Department, attended 2 years
University of Victoria, Bachelor of Arts (History in Art), 1997
Victoria College of Art, Continuing studies, 2008-09
Ryder Studio School, Portrait painting with Tony Ryder, 2009

AWARDS
2013 – Favourite Emerging Visual Artist 2013, Monday Magazine “M” Awards. Weblog.
2012 – Best 2 Dimensional, Sooke Fine Art Show (Adjudicated), Sooke, BC. Weblog.

GROUP EXHIBITIONS & SHOW

2013: TBD, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Oct-Nov 2013
2013  Curioser: Contemporary Responses to Alice in Wonderland, Fifty Fifty Gallery, Victoria, BC. Weblog.
2012  Christmas Salon and Exhibition, The Apartment Gallery, Victoria, BC. Weblog.
2012  Christmas Small Works (Juried), Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Victoria, BC. Weblog.
2012  Sidney Fine Art Show (Juried), Sidney, BC. Weblog.
2012  Grand Opening with Lu Jun  - Wind Lotus, The Apartment Gallery, Victoria, BC. Weblog.
2012  Summer Small Works Exhibition (Juried), Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Victoria, BC. Weblog.
2012  Sooke Fine Art Show (Adjudicated), Sooke, BC. Weblog.
2012  Paint-In (Invitational), Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Victoria, BC. Weblog.
2012  Pride Art Exhibition, Madrona Gallery, Victoria, BC. Weblog.
2012  INDEXG, Art Rainbow 2012, Toronto, ON. Weblog.
2012  Boudoir, Victoria Emerging Art Gallery, Victoria, BC. Weblog.
2011  Small Works Group Show, Red Art Gallery, Victoria, BC. Weblog.
2011  Never Dine Alone, The Sculpture Studio, Victoria, BC. Weblog.  
2011  Sidney Fine Art Show, (Juried) Victoria, BC. Weblog.
2011  Friends and Other Funny Folks, Red Art Gallery, Victoria, BC. Weblog.
2009  Victoria College of Art Year end show, Victoria, BC
2008  Victoria College of Art Year end show, Victoria, BC
2008  Look, CACGV, Victoria, BC

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2013  Romancing the Squirrel, The Apartment Gallery, Victoria, BC
2012  Sirius Squirrels, Sooke Harbour House Art Gallery, Sooke, BC
2011  Solo Show, Spiral Cafe, Victoria, BC
2011  Secret Squirrels,Ferris’ Upstairs Oyster Bar,Victoria, BC
2010  Big Eyed Ladies,Black Olive Restaurant, Victoria, BC

CURATORIAL PROJECTS
2013 Yardley, Carollyne. “Bun Anus Project.” Victoria, BC. Weblog.
2011  Yardley, Carollyne, “Never Dine Alone.” The Sculpture Studio, Victoria, BC. Weblog.

JURY PANEL

2012  Victoria Emerging Art Awards, Victoria Emerging Art Gallery, Victoria, BC. Weblog.

PUBLICATIONS & REVIEWS

2013 Coach House Books, Cover, Fall 2013 Catalogue, Toronto, Ontario. April 17, 2013. Weblog.
2013 Wahl, David. “Our recent post about Carollyne’s Saint Squirrel and Pope Pinenuts” Archie McPhee’s Endless Geyser of AWESOME!  18 Mar 2013.. Web log.
2013 Lindsay, Teresa. “Revealing an Incredible Journey through Pop Surrealism.” Web log. Vic42.com., 21 Feb. 2013. 
2013 Beneteau, Nicole. “Artists Take a Crack at Carroll Classic.” Web log post. Nexus Newspaper RSS., 18 Feb. 2013.
2013 Jones, Kate. “Romancing the Squirrel in the Studio.” Weblog post. Pennello Lane, Creative Canadian Women. N.p., 12 Feb. 2013.
2013 Kieran Wilson (Author), Imitations of Eternity, St. Gengulphus’ Publishing, Feb 2013, Cover. Weblog post.
2013  Focus Magazine, Cover, vol. 25., no. 5, February 2013 Print. 
2013  Madden, Aaren. “The Unbearable Lightness of Squirrels.” Editorial. Focus Magazine 01 Feb. 2013: 16-17. Print.
2013  Focus Magazine, Advertisement, January 2013: pg. 13 Print. 
2013  Threlfall, John. “Culture Goes Pop.” Editorial. Yam Magazine Jan/Feb 2013: 16-17. Print.
2012 Willey, Philip. “Days in the Life.” Illus. by Carollyne Yardley pg. 13. Victoria, BC. Ahndai Books, 2012. Weblog.
2012  Wahl, David. “Hey Look, It’s a Gingerbread Squirrel!” Archie McPhee’s Endless Geyser of AWESOME!  7 Dec. 2012. Web log.
2012  Focus Magazine, Cover, vol. 25., no. 3, December 2012 Print. 
2012  Monday Magazine, Cover 3829, July 2012. Print. Web log.
2012  Green, MaryEllen. “Artist Is Nuts for Squirrels.” Monday Magazine 19 July 2012: 8. Print. Weblog Post.
2012  Wahl, David. “As Many of You Probably Know by Now, We Have A Soft Spot for Squirrels | Archie McPhee’s Endless Geyser of AWESOME!” Web log post. 27 June 2012.
2012  Willey, Philip. “Blair, Yardley, Schultz and the Pop Sensibility by Philip Willey.” Web log post. Exhibit-V. N.p., 12 May 2012.
2012 Patience, Kaitlyn. “Artist Spotlight on Carollyne Yardley.” Pamplemousse!, 13 Apr. 2012. Web.
2012 Bart Koubaa (Author), De Brooklyn Club, Querido Publishing. Jan 01, 2012, Cover. web log
2011  Wood, Christine. “The Business of Art.” Kendall Wood. N.p., 7 Dec. 2011. Web. 14 Mar. 2013. Weblog post.
2011  Robert, Amos. “Treasures of Oak Bay Galleries.” Times Colonist [Victoria, BC] 20 Aug. 2011: D5. Print.
2011  DHaem, Jim. “Geisha Girl Squirrel (and QR Code).” Web log post. QR Code Artist. N.p., 11 Sept. 2011.
2011 Anita.”Don’t Miss This Squirrelly Art Show at Ferris’ Oyster Bar.” Weblog post. ScrimporSplurge.ca. N.p., 28 Apr. 2011. Web.
2010 Quiroz, Efren. “Carollyne Yardley: Artist of the Month.” Exhibit-V.ca. Oct 04, 2012. Weblog post.

TELEVISION & MEDIA

2013  Your Eyes on the Visual Arts with Efren Quiroz. February 23, 2013. Romancing the Squirrel. Exhibit-V.ca. YouTube.
2013  ”Adam Sawatsky’s Arts & Lifestyle.” News at 5, CTV News, Feb 21, 2013. Romancing the Squirrel.  Television.
2013  ”Eye on the Arts with Adam Sawatsky.” CFAX1070, Feb 16-17, 2013. Romancing the Squirrel. Radio.
2012  Your Eyes on the Visual Arts with Efren Quiroz. Dec 09, 2012, Christmas Salon, The Apartment Gallery. Exhibit-V.ca. YouTube.
2012  Adam Sawatsky’s Arts & Lifestyle.” News at 5, CTV News, July 20, 2012. Moss Street Paint In, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria.Television.
2012  Eye on the Arts with Adam Sawatsky.” CFAX1070, July 15th. Moss Street Paint In. Radio.
2012  Your Eyes on the Visual Arts with Efren Quiroz. Oct 01, 2012. Grand Opening of The Apartment Gallery with Lu Jun. Exhibit-V.ca. YouTube.
2012  Your Eyes on the Visual Arts with Efren Quiroz. Jul 01, 2012. Pride Art Exhibition, Madrona Gallery. Exhibit-V. YouTube.
2012  29er radio, The Growler Hour with Eric Bramble. Jan 10, 2012. Interview with Carollyne Yardley. Podcast.
2011  Carollyne Yardley Omnimedia. Nov 06, 2011. Never Dine Alone, Sculpture Studio. YouTube.
2011  Your Eyes on the Visual Arts with Efren Quiroz.” Nov. 05, 2011. Never Dine Alone.” Exhibit-V.ca. Youtube.
2011  Your Eyes on the Visual Arts with Efren Quiroz. Nov 12, 2011. Carollyne Yardley talks about, Never Dine Alone. Exhibit-V. YouTube.
2011  Your Eyes on the Visual Arts with Efren Quiroz. Aug 5, 2011. Friends and Other Funny Folks, Red Art Gallery. Exhibit-V.ca. YouTube.
2011  Your Eyes on the Visual Arts with Efren Quiroz.May 05, 2011. Secret Squirrels Show, Ferris’ Upstairs. Exhibit-V.ca. YouTube.
2010 The Daily Show with Karen Elgersma. Shaw TV, Oct 2010. Interview with Carollyne Yardley. Television.
2010 Your Eyes on the Visual Arts with Efren Quiroz. Nov 05, 2010. Big Eyed Ladies Show. Exhibit-V.ca. YouTube.

TEXTS

2013 Yardley, Carollyne. “Birgit Piskor Studio Show”. Carollyne.com. March 9, 2013. Weblog post.
2013 Yardley, Carollyne. “Washington, DC Galleries and Museums Tour, September 2012. January 08, 2013. Weblog.
2012 Yardley, Carollyne. ” Roq La Rue Gallery, Seattle, WA. ft. Josh Keyes and John Brophy. Nov 24, 2012. Weblog.
2012 Yardley, Carollyne. “Noah Becker Paintings, Pen Drawing and Studio Tour. May 31, 2012. Weblog.
2012 Yardley, Carollyne. “Ernest Marza, Canadian painter, world of art nouveau. May 14, 2012. Weblog.
2012 Yardley, Carollyne. “Steve Chmilar”. April 28, 2012. Weblog.
2012 Yardley, Carollyne. “Dale Roberts, Sculptor and Studio Tour. Jan 25, 2012. Weblog.
2011 Yardley, Carollyne. “New York, Tony Bennett, and ART. Sept 26, 2011. Weblog.

VIDEOS

2011 Yardley, Carollyne. “Funny Face Squirrels on The Avenue.” Carollyne.com. July 13, 2011. Youtube.
2011 Yardley, Carollyne. “NYC Squirrel Love.” Carollyne.com. NYC. Sept 26, 2011. Youtube.
2011 Yardley, Carollyne. “Afterlife Curated by Jim D’Amato.” NYC. Sept 24, 2011. Youtube
2011 Yardley, Carollyne. “Never Dine Alone Art Opening.” Carollyne.com. November 6, 2011. Youtube.
2011 Yardley, Carollyne. “Secret Squirrels.” Carollyne.com. April 26, 2011. Youtube. 

OTHER EVENTS

2013 Guest Speaker, Saanich Peninsula Arts and Crafts Society, May 2013.
2013 Art Donation, CNIB Eye Appeal 2013, May 10, 2013. Weblog.
2013 Celebrity Waiter, Tip a Fool, Greater Victoria Citizens Counseling Center. Weblog.
2012  Guest Speaker, PechaKucha, Volume 11, DIY Edition
2012 Guest Speaker, “From Pixels to Paint”, yoUnlimited, November 7, 2012
2012  Artist in Residence, Massey Gallery, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Integrate Arts Walk, Aug 4. Weblog.
2012  Lady Gaga, Float Character, Oak Bay Avenue Tea Party. Weblog.
2012  Exhibitor, Victoria Steam Exposition. Weblog.