I became a professional artist, although I didn’t know it at the time, at age eight when a kind neighbor bought my found object “giraffe” sculpture. I have been making art ever since.I have a degree in art education from Penn State University and MFA credits . When I was teaching art in Alaska and Pennsylvania I used a lot of my creative energy in the classroom, but made time for art making on the weekends and during the summers. While raising three daughters there were times when my art making time was limited, but I kept fitting it in. I mainly sold my art at art fairs in metropolitan areas in the Northeast, picking up a few galleries from time to time. After moving to Florida in 2002, I opened Carol Winner Artist Gallery in downtown Fernandina Beach. After weathering the financial crisis, Covid and other disasters, I was compelled to close my gallery at the end of 2023 due to a new landlord and an insurmountable rent increase. After more than a year of looking, I am now a co-owner of The Fringe Fine Art Gallery at 809 Beech Street in downtown Fernandina. I also have my paintings at a co-operative gallery in the Omni Plantation on Amelia Island, the PAGG gallery (paggart.com). PAGG is open 11-5 every day but closed Tuesdays. The Fringe Gallery is open 11-5 every day but closed Sundays. Please contact me at carolwinnerart@gmail.com or 904-583-4676.