An award winning, classically trained artist who currently specializes in the use of oil pastel with a focus on landscapes, florals and figurative paintings.  I am as passionate about painting, as I am about teaching other people about the importance of the visual arts.

Born and raised in upstate Illinois, attended highschool in Champaign, IL. and attended undergraduate college in Nashville, Tenn and completed my MA at the University of Illinois.  Taught highschool in Rantoul, IL. for 6 years and after teaching at the University of Illinois as a graduate teaching assistant, moved to Muncie Indiana to teach at Ball State University.

PAINTING:

Oil Pastel is a delicate yet durable medium that is rich in texture and color when properly applied and protected. It is spontaneous in execution, and provides delicate and soft transitions of color resulting in energetic and articulate personal statements.

My passion for painting is focused around expressing the energy I sense in nature, using energetic strokes and bright color to capture what I feel and experience. Currently, I am focused on the use of oil pastel as a painting and drawing medium and enjoy the translucent layers to create impulsive and intuitive approaches to shape, value, color, edges and texture. The easy application, blending and bright color along with the direct spontaneous approach for applying the medium is captivating.  I find the oil pastel medium is perfect for creating and interpreting large floral studies, impressionistic landscapes, and gestural and traditional figurative studies that include formal commissioned portraits.  The flexibility and ease of using professional oil pastel allows for a wide range of 2-dimensional expression that is primarily painterly, and a non toxic (green) approach to creating painting that can yield tradtional or experimental approaches to painting that are personal one of a kind images.

EDUCATION:

BA in Arts Education from Vanderbilt University/George Peabody College for Teachers, Nashville, TN.

• Winning an art scholarship to attend college, 1966-1970.

M.A in Arts Education from the University of Illinois, Champaign/Urbana.

• Awarded 3 yr.Teaching Assistantship at the U of I, 1976-1979

High School - Champaign Central High School,
Champaign, IL.

• Awarded College Scholarship in Art
• Awarded Gold Keys from National Scholastic Art Awards
• President of the Art Club
• Awarded Illinois Women's Club - Art Camp at The University of Illinois, Allerton Mansion in Monticello, IL.

TEACHING & CORPORATE MANAGEMENT:

• The Kendall County Art League, Spring Grove, IL. Oil Pastel Demonstration
• The Aurora Art League, Aurora, IL. Oil Pastel Demonstration
• The Lemont Art League, Lemont, IL. Oil Pastel Demonstration
• The Wayne Art League, Wayne, IL. Oil Pastel Demonstration
• The Fine Line Creative Arts Center, St. charles, IL - Teacher Institute Day  for local art teachers
• The Artist's Association of Elk Grove Village
  Requested to Judge their juried art show
  
• The Addison Center for the Arts
  Invited to create a Solo Exhibition of my art work
  
• The Addison Art Guild
  Invited to teach an oil pastel workshop
  
• The College of Wheaton - Community School of the Arts Invited to teach an oil pastel workshop
• The Fine Line Creative Arts Center,
  St. Charles, IL. – Art Instructor – Adults and High School Students - Classes and Workshops
  
• The DuPage Art League, Wheaton, IL.
  Art Instructor - Adults - Classes and Workshops
• Consulting - Glen Ellyn, IL.  Visual Merchandising
• Consulting - Oak Park, IL. Visual Merchandising
  
• The Illinois Institute of Art, Schaumburg, IL. Fashion Merchandising Instructor
  Presented withThe Quality Service Award
  
• Sears, Roebuck and Co., Hoffman Estates, IL - Corporate Training Mgr.
• Sears, Roebuck and Co., Hoffman Estates, IL. - National Project Visual Mgr
• Sears, Roebuck and Co., Columbus, Oh. – Store Visual Merchandise Mgr.& Operations Mgr.
• Sears, Roebuck and Co., Muncie, IN. – Store Visual Merchandise Mgr.  
• Ball State University, Muncie, IN. - Art Instructor
• The University of Illinois, Champaign, IL, Graduate Teaching Assistant for Undergraduates
• Rantoul Twp. High School, Rantoul, IL.
  Art Teacher

TODAY CAROL IS....:

Developing a successful and vibrant art business that includes quality fine art, custom framing and Instruction in the Fine Art of Painting.
  
An award winning artist who is busy selling and exhibiting her work and providing educational opportunities in the arts.

Available for workshops, demonstrations, private lessons, commissions and gallery representation.

Volunteering her time and expertise to enhance the art environment in local and national art organizations.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS: 

• The Fine Line Creative Arts Center, St. Charles, IL – Faculty Member since 2006
  
  
• The Yellow House Artists, Founding Member, an organization dedicated to furthering oil pastel.
  
  
• The Dupage Art League, Wheaton, IL.
  Faculty Member
  
  
• The Portrait Society of America, Artist Member: - Attended the 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2021 national conventions in Atlanta and Philadelphia.
  
  
• The American Impressionism Society, Artist Member, an organization dedicated to furthering Impressionist style painting.
  
  
• The Arkansas Pastel Society - Past Artist Member, Organization dedicated to both soft pastel and oil pasteL
  
  
• Fox Valley Community Associates for The Art Institute of Chicago- Past Member
  
  
• Northwest Area Arts Council - Past Board Member
  
  
• Chicago Pastel Painters
  
  
  

STUDIED PAINTING WITH:

Fred Attebury, Arthur Orr, Edward Betts, Mark Sprague,Glenn Bradshaw, Billy Morrow Jackson, George Shipperley, Jerry Power, David Hettinger and Robert Burridge.

SOLO EXHIBITIONS:

• 2015    "St. Clair Art Fair Invited Guest and
               Featured Artist"

• 2015   "Oil Pastel by Carol L. Zack" 2015,
               Windsor Park Gallery, Carol Stream, IL.

• 2014 "Emphasis Oil Pastel 2014" 
           at The Addison Center for the Arts,
           Addison, IL. 

• 2014  The Healing Gallery, Elgin, IL.
  

• 2013  The Wasco Nursery, Wasco, IL.

• 2012 The Bourbon St. Gallery,The Pheasant
          Run Resort, St. Charles, IL.

• 2012 The Holmstad Gallery, Ed and Carol Zack,
          Batavia, IL.

• 2009  The Ruth Ray Memorial Gallery, The Illinois
              Institute of Art, Schaumburg Campus,
           Schaumburg, IL.

• 2009 The Paramount Mezzanine Gallery,
           Aurora, IL.

• 2008 The Illinois Institute of Art, Schaumburg, IL

CORPORATE COLLECTIONS;

• The Illinois Institute of Art-Schaumburg, IL. – 2008
  
  
• The Unit 4 School System, Centennial High School Library
  
  
• Hallmark Cards, Crown Center, Kansas City, Kansas

SOLO AND GROUP EXHIBITIONS:

• 2020    "Gallery 116, St. Charles, IL.
  
  
• 2019     Oil Pastel Online Facebook Group
               competition 
               Awarded 1st Place in Abstract Category
  
  
• 2019   "Yellow House Artists Spring Show," 
              The Palette and Chisel, Chicago, IL.
              Awarded Best of Show
  
  
• 2019    "Going in Style" juried exhibition
               The Bloomingdale Park District Museum
                Bloomingdale, IL.
                Awarded an Honorable Mention
               
  
• 2019     Best fof the Best 
               The Alliance of Fine ArtsMays Lake
                Peabody Estate, Oak Park, IL.
                Juried Acceptance for having won within
                the alliance in 2019
  
  
  
• 2018    The Yellow House Artists Fall Exhibition,                         The Elmhurst Art Museum, Elmhurst, IL.                         Awarded an Honorable Mention

• 2018    "The Faculty Show",
              The Fine Line Creative Arts Center,
               St. Charles, IL.

• 2016   "Passion for Pastel" The Gallery of Nature,
               Wasco, IL. An Exhibition for Carol Zack
                and her Students.
  
  
• 2015  "The Yellow House Artists", Elmhurst Museum,                Elmhurst, IL. 
   
• 2015  The Arkansas Pastel Society 6th Annual
              National Juried Show "Reflections is Pastel"
              Butler Center for the Arts. Little Rock, Ark.
  
  
• 2015   "Vicinity", The Norris Gallery juried exhibition,
              St. Charles, IL. 

• 2015  "Indulgence"  Juried Exhibition, The Fine
            LIne Creative Arts Center, St. Charles, IL.
  
  
• 2015   "Solo Show" Windsor Park, Carol Stream IL.
   
•  2014  "Rythym in Color" - Yellow House Artists, Elgin
              Artspace Gallery, Elgin, IL.
  
  
• 2014  "Adventures in Pastel"  Presence St. Joseph
              Hospital - The Healing Gallery - Solo Show
  
  
• 2014  "Emphasis - Oil Pastel" - The Addison Center
              for the Arts, Addison, IL. -  Solo Show
  
  
• 2013  "A Gallery of Nature, Cultural Connections
               and The Wasco Nursery - Wasco, IL. -
              Solo Show
  
  
• 2013 "Vicinity 2013" - The Norris Gallery, Norris
              Cultural Arts Center, St. Charles, IL. - Juried
              Show
   
• 2013  "Color Redefined", The Yellow House Artists,
              The Kavanagh Gallery at The Fine Line
              Creative Arts Center, St. Charles, IL.
              Member's Show.
  
  
• 2013  "Pause: Art of the Moment" - Elgin ArtSpace,
             Recipient of a 2013 grant from the Elgin
             Cultural Art Commission
  
  
• 2013 "Art at the Mansion", Yellow House Artists -
           Member's Show, Mayslake Peabody
           Mansion, Oak Brook, IL.
  
  
• 2013 The Addison Center for the Arts, “Creative
          Women Artists”, Arts, Addison, IL
          Honorable Mention Award
  
  
• 2012 The Yellow House Artists,  “At the
           Paramount”, The Paramount Theatre,
           Aurora, IL.
   
• 2012 The Norris Gallery,  “Vicinity”, A Juried                    Show,   St.Charles, IL.
  
  
• 2012 The Provena Healing Gallery, Invitational,
          Provena, St. Joseph Hospital, Elgin, IL.
  
  
• 2012 The St. Charles Arts Council, “Pop UP
           Next Gallery, Invitational, St. Charles, IL.
  
  
• 2012 The Oil Pastel Society, “Illuminations” 
          Juried Members Show,
          Honorable Mention Award
  
  
• 2012 The Courthouse Gallery, “The Garden
           Spell” Invitational, Woodstock, IL.
  
  
• 2012  The Kavanagh Gallery. “All Media
            Landscape”, Juried Exhibition, The Fine                Line Creative Arts Center, St. Charles, IL.
  
  
• 2011  The Norris Gallery,  “ Vicinity”  Juried Show,
           The Norris Gallery, St. Charles, IL.
  
  
• 2011   The St. Charles Arts Council,“ The Pop Up
            Gallery, Juried Show,  St. Charles, IL.
  
  
• 2011   The Northwest Area Arts Council, Juried
            Members Show, The Garlands,
            Barrington, IL.
  
  
• 2011  The Bloomingdale Park District Museum,
           "Lovely to Look At” Juried Show,
            Honorable Mention Award
  
  
• 2011  The Yellow House Artists, Guest Artist
           with George Shipperley to showcase
           oil pastel  “”Expressions in Color”
  
  
• 2011  "The St Charles Art Fair”, Show Work and
           Demonstrate Oil Pastel Painting with The
           Fine Line Creative Arts Center,
           St. Charles, IL.
  
  
• 2011  The Kavanaugh Gallery, “Diverse
           Statements”, Faculty Show, The Fine Line
           Creative Arts Center, St. Charles, IL.
   
  
• 2010  The St. Charles Country Club,  “Attitudes”
           Invitational Charity Event, St. Charles, IL.
  
  
• 2010  The Norris Gallery,  “Vicinity”, Juried Show,
            St. Charles, IL.
  
  
• 2010  The Northwest Area Arts Council,"Real
           People”, Nationally Juried Show,
           Woodstock, IL
  
  
•  2010  The Bloomingdale Park Dist. Museum,
            “A Time and a Place”, A juried show,
             Bloomingdale, IL.
  
  
• 2010  "The St. Charles Arts Fair” – Inconjuntion
           with The Fine Line Creative Arts Center,
           St. Charles, IL.
  
  
• 2010  The Elgin Arts Commission,“ Art on the
            Eighth Invitational Salon”, Elgin, IL.
  
  
• 2010  The Ruth Ray Memorial Gallery, The                      Facutly Exhibition, The Illinois Institute
             of Art, Schaumburg, IL
  
  
• 2009  The Aurora Public Arts Commission,
            "Paintings at City Hall, Aurora, IL.
  
  
• 2009  Provena St. Joseph Hospital,
            "Places of the Heart" Gallery Grand                       Opening and Dedication, Elgin, IL.
  
  
• 2009 The Sage Bistro and The Fine Line
            Creative Arts Center, Demonstration,
            St. Charles, IL.
  
  
• 2009 The Oil Pastel Society Members Juried
           Show, "Transformation", On Line Exhibition
  
  
• 2009 The Norris Gallery, "Vicinity" Juried Show,
           St. Charles, IL.
  
  
• 2009  Lane-Pepa Gallery, "Embracing Nature",
            Batavia , IL.
  
  
• 2009  Yellow House Artists exhibit during                        Swedish Days in Geneva, IL.
  
  
• 2009  The Kavanagh Gallery, "Diverse                            Statement" The Fine Line Creative
            Arts Center, St. Charles, IL.
  
  
• 2009  The Illinois Institute of Art, "The Faculty
             Show", Schaumburg, IL.
  
  
• 2008  Art Gallery Showings, Solo Exhibition,
              The Paramount Theatre, Aurora, IL.
  
  
• 2008  Henrich Gallery, Yellow House Artists
           members show, "Expressions", Aurora, IL.
  
  
• 2008  The Norris Gallery, "Vicinity", Juried Show,
            St. Charles, IL.
  
  
• 2008  The Bloomingdale Park Dist. Museum,
           "About Face",juried show, Bloomingdale, IL.
  
  
• 2008  The Oil Pastel Society, Juried Members
           Show, "Transitions" On-Line Exhibition
  
  
• 2008  The Alfons Gallery, Milwaukee,Wis.
           "Inspirations" The Faculty Show,
            The Fine Line Creative Arts Center
  
  
• 2008  The Kavanagh Gallery, "Art Inspired by
            Nature" member's show, The Fine Line
            Creative Arts Center, St Charles, IL.
  
  
• 2008  The Peck Farm Gallery, "Beauty in Our
            Midst", The Yellow House Artist's member
            show, Geneva, IL.
  
  
• 2008  The Ruth Ray Memorial Art Gallery,
           The Illinois Institute of Art, Invitation to
           Show with Anna Wodecki, lSchaumburg
           Campus, Schaumburg, IL.
  
  
• 2008  The Ruth Ray Memorial Art Gallery, 
           The Illinois Institute of Art Gallery, "The
            Faculty Show", a Juried Show,
            Schaumburg, IL.
  
  
• 2007  The Northwest Cultural Council, "The Look
            of Love", Juried Show, Rolling Meadows, IL
  
  
• 2007  The Norris Gallery, "Vicinity", Juried Show,
            St. Charles, IL.
  
  
• 2007  The DuPage Art League, ""Paint DuPage",
            A Juried Show, Wheaton, IL
  
  
• 2007  The Dempsey Gallery" Members Only,
           The Fine Line Creative Arts Center,
            St. Charles, IL.
  
  
• 2007  The Oil Pastel Society, "Emerging"
            Members annual online show,
  
  
• 2007  The Kavanagh Gallery, "The Student                    Show" The Fine Line Creative Arts Center,
            St. Charles, IL.
  
  
• 2007   The Yellow House Artists, St. Charles, IL.
  
  
• 2007   The DuPage Art League, "A Place in the
            Sun, Wheaton, IL
  
  
• 2007  The DuPage Art League, "Sping into Action
            Wheaton, IL.
  
  
• 2007  The DuPage Art League, "Celebrate"
            Wheaton, IL.
  
  
• 2007  The DuPage Art League, "I Remember
            When", Wheaton, IL.
  
  
• 2007  The Naperville Art League, "Backward
            Forward", Naperville, IL.
  
  
• 2007  The Kavanagh Gallery, "The Faculty Show"
            The Fine Line Creative Arts Center, St.
            Charles, IL
  
  
• 2007  Northwest Area Arts Council, "Woman's
           Works", National Juried Show, Juror was            Judy Chicago, Woodstock, IL.
  
  
• 2006 The Bloomingdale Park Dist. Museum,
          "Faces and Places, Juried Show,
           Bloomingdale, IL  3rd Place Award.
  
  
• 2006  The McCauley Gallery, Aurora, IL.
  
  
• 2006  The Oil Pastel Society, "Versatility",
            Members show online
  
  
• 2006  The Kavanagh Gallery, "The Annual                       Student Show, The Fine Line Creative
             Arts Center, St. Charles, IL.
  
  
• 2006  The Dempsey Gallery - Members Only -
            Grand Opening, The Fine Line Creative
            Arts Center, St. Charles, IL
  
  
• 2006 The Kavenagh Gallery, "Color                                Expressions", An Oil Pastel Exhibit,
           The Fine Line Creative Arts Center,
            St. Charles, IL.
  
  
• 2006  The Campbell House Gallery, Kane County
            Forest Preserve, "Winter" Geneva, IL.
  
  
• 2006  The Kavanagh Gallery, "Viewpint", National
           Juried Show, The Fine Line Creative Arts
           Center, St. Charles, IL.
  
  
• 2005  The Norris Gallery, "Vicinity, Juried Show,
            St. Charles, IL.
  
  
• 2005 The Kavanagh Gallery,"The Student Show"
           The Fine Line Creative Arts Center,
           St. Charles, IL.
  
  
• 1979  Krannert Museum, "The Graduate Show",
           The University of Illinois, Champaign, IL.
  
  
• 1970  Peabody Art Gallery, "The Undergraduate
           Art Exhibition", George Peabody
           for Teachers, Nashville, TN.
  
  
• 1966  The National Scholastic Art Awards,
           "College Portfolio Competition"  New York,
            NY College Scholarship Award and
            Gold Key Award
  
  
• 1965 The National Scholastic Art Awards,
           New York, NY
           The Hallmark Honor Purchase Prize
           and Gold Key Award

Who We Are

• Zack Artistry was formed to showcase both Carol and Edward Zack's art work. But it has become much more since we first posted our first website.  Today we are fortunate to be able to showcase our paintings, and a whole lot more!
  
  
• Carol Zack is a Chicago area artist who enjoys using vibrant color in her pastel paintings. She inspiration from the French Impressionists and 20th century Abstract Expressionists painters
  
  
• Carol earned a college scholarship for her art work to attend the highly respected college, George Peabody College for Teachers, now the college of education at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN.
  
  
• Graduating with her Bachelors of Arts degree, she immediately entered the teaching field developing an award winning art department at Rantoul Twp High School whose many students went on to build their own careers in the arts.
  
  
• Carol met her husband Edward Zack, when he came to teach art at Rantoul Twp High school. Both decided to go back to school and earn their Masters Degrees in Arts Education from The University of Illinois. Earning Teacher Assistantships at the U of I, Carol and Ed's advisors, Dr. Theodore Zurnich, Dr. George Hardiman and Dr.Kenneth Lansing were instraumental in providing the best in teaching methodology and philosophy in Arts Education.  Carol also was fortunate enough to work with such noted painting professors as Mark Sprague, Edward Betts, Billy Marrow Jackson, and Glen Bradshaw. 
  
  
• After completing their Masters degree, both were asked to teach at Ball State University in Muncie Indiana, where we helped to build the quality of the Art Education Department.
     
• Both Carol and Ed moved into corporate training and moved to Dublin, Ohio where they were they joined the Dublin Art League and raised their daughter.
  
  
• Carol was transfered to the national corporate offices in the Chicago area and their daughter went off to college at Ohio State University.  After 10 years, her company was downsized and she was once again able to pick up her art career.