"People are so fascinating. As an artist, my primary interest has always been people. I love to bring life to people on canvas, and strive to convey emotion and mood in my work."

The art of Carol Strebel is realistic, sometimes photo-realistic.
With vitality and naturalness her portraits seem to inhabit our own space and breathe the same air. Carol uses a technique of building thin layers of
color to achieve depth and luminosity whether she is painting in oil or
water-based media.

Originally from the Northern Kentucky city of Newport, Carol lives and works in Cincinnati, Ohio. Raised in an atmosphere that encouraged learning and originality, her talent and passion for art became apparent at an early age in her daily drawing sessions. It was a natural progression for her to pursue a career in art. After earning an Associates Degree in Commercial Art, Carol opened Strebel Design & Illustration in downtown Cincinnati. Here she employed the help of many free-lance artists and a full time staffer to help her create and produce award winning design solutions for area Hospitals, Corporations, Publishers, Advertising Agencies and TV Stations. Carol maintained this business for 12 years and while thus employed, she studied painting for 3 years at the Cincinnati Art Academy and taught illustration at Antonelli College of Art & Design. She also began doing portrait and illustration work while leaving behind graphic design. Carol opened Strebel Illustration for the next 8 years, where she illustrated numerous books and magazines for major publishing companies, specializing in realistic paintings of people. During this time Carol
took on more portrait commissions, began painting landscapes and her
highly detailed still lifes.
Now working as StrebelArt, Carol paints portraits, still lifes and other subjects.

Carol’s Studio is just 5 minutes from the heart of downtown Cincinnati
in East Walnut Hills.

In addition to her formal schooling, Carol has worked to develop her skills as an artist through attending painting groups, sketch groups, sculpture groups, painting workshops, studying the work and methods of other artists, visiting Museums, Galleries, special exhibits and reading the lives and techniques of past masters.

Carol is a member of the Portrait Society of America and the International Guild of Realism. Throughout her career Carol maintained memberships in the The Graphic Artist’s Guild, The Advertiser's Club, The Art Director's Club and as an Active member of the Cincinnati Art Club where she served on the board for 3 years running the Sketch Group and editing
the Dragonfly newsletter.

Carol has won many awards for her painting and her work is in many
private collections.

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