Read my feature in Radius Magazine.
Fine Arts: Soul of a Tree
Updated Mar 14; Posted Mar 14
By Janet Purcell
For The Times of Trenton
Sean Carney works on wood. Using wood stains and a Dremel rotary tool, he creates highly-detailed architectural portraits of "City Hall," "State Theater" and "Ellarslie #2" on view in this show. His portrait of Ellarslie, the home of Trenton City Museum, done in a palette of earth tones, welcomes you with it's warmth to the illuminated gallery windows offering a glimpse of possibly an opening happening within.
His "NYC Skyview" is an amazing work in which skyscrapers tower over lesser buildings on the city's crowded streets as they move forward from the river beyond to the bottom of the picture plane.
Carney's paintings appear to be traditional when seen from a distance. You are first drawn in to get a closer look at the intricate details. It is then you realize something different is going on in them--then you read the label indicating "wood stain on pine" and you understand.
In addition to this show, you can enjoy Carney's work in two solo and six group shows scheduled in 2018 and on his website www.carneystudios.net. His work was honored with a 2016 Mercer County Culture and Heritage Purchase Award.
For The Trees: Artists' visions of nature at the D&R Greenway
Fine Arts: Soul of a Tree
Updated Mar 14; Posted Mar 14
By Janet Purcell
For The Times of Trenton
Sean Carney works on wood. Using wood stains and a Dremel rotary tool, he creates highly-detailed architectural portraits of "City Hall," "State Theater" and "Ellarslie #2" on view in this show. His portrait of Ellarslie, the home of Trenton City Museum, done in a palette of earth tones, welcomes you with it's warmth to the illuminated gallery windows offering a glimpse of possibly an opening happening within.
His "NYC Skyview" is an amazing work in which skyscrapers tower over lesser buildings on the city's crowded streets as they move forward from the river beyond to the bottom of the picture plane.
Carney's paintings appear to be traditional when seen from a distance. You are first drawn in to get a closer look at the intricate details. It is then you realize something different is going on in them--then you read the label indicating "wood stain on pine" and you understand.
In addition to this show, you can enjoy Carney's work in two solo and six group shows scheduled in 2018 and on his website www.carneystudios.net. His work was honored with a 2016 Mercer County Culture and Heritage Purchase Award.
For The Trees: Artists' visions of nature at the D&R Greenway
- By Anthony Stoeckert
- Mar 14, 2018 Updated Mar 14, 2018
- Carney's wood stain art captures architecture, creating classic and timeless renderings of landmarks such as the State Theatre, St. Peter the Apostle Church and the Heldrich Hotel in New Brunswick. Carney's art also includes an image of the Ellarslie Mansion in Trenton.
- "A lot of his work focuses on architecture," Moore says. "And what kept coming out of it was this feeling of trees, although it's architectural, because it's a lot of spires, and it's a lot of skyscrapers and cityscapes, and what I really got out of it, is that it was like looking at a forest or looking at an isolated tree."
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Morris Arts will be holding their Fall/Winter 2016-17 Invitational Exhibit and reception on September 29.
By Y McGreevy (Patch Staff) - September 27, 2016 2:15 pm ET while the intricate depictions of landmarks, NJ streetscapes and iconic scenes, all strikingly crafted in wood (using only dremel and water based stains) by artist Sean Carney, fascinate and delight the eye in the 3rd floor |
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By Janet Purcell | For The Times of Trenton
on March 02, 2016 at 7:00 AM, updated March 02, 2016 at 7:07 AM Moving along on the long back wall of the main gallery, you'll find Sean Carney's award-winning First Snow, done in wood stain on wood. Although it is a classic city scene complete with cars, a few pedestrians on the sidewalk and snow piled up on curbs, the fact that it was done in stains rather than oil or acrylic pigments and is finished with high gloss, lifts it out to the unexpected |
By Janet Purcell | For The Times of Trenton
on April 30, 2015 at 11:54 AM
In the room across the hallway you'll find another grouping of important works highlighted by Sean Carney's "Jersey Boys" done on stained birch wood in a limited palette of sienna's. I'll bet you will be captivated, as was I, wondering about his process in creating such an extraordinary piece.
Quote from the Artists of Yardley 4th Juried exhibit write up for the Times of Trenton
on April 30, 2015 at 11:54 AM
In the room across the hallway you'll find another grouping of important works highlighted by Sean Carney's "Jersey Boys" done on stained birch wood in a limited palette of sienna's. I'll bet you will be captivated, as was I, wondering about his process in creating such an extraordinary piece.
Quote from the Artists of Yardley 4th Juried exhibit write up for the Times of Trenton
Posted: Wednesday, April 8, 2015 12:15 am | Updated: 7:04 am, Wed Apr 8, 2015. The Intelligencer
By GWEN SHRIFT Staff Writer
An unusual execution sets off “Jersey Boys,” Sean Carney’s streetscape in stained and carved birch. The golden wood tone paradoxically lends an elegiac quality to the image, as though the artist had devised a sepia photograph or daguerreotype of a contemporary scene.
By GWEN SHRIFT Staff Writer
An unusual execution sets off “Jersey Boys,” Sean Carney’s streetscape in stained and carved birch. The golden wood tone paradoxically lends an elegiac quality to the image, as though the artist had devised a sepia photograph or daguerreotype of a contemporary scene.
By Don Brewer for the DonArtNews
Artist Sean Carney ‘s stained wood panels depict iconic Philadelphia scenes by carving the surface, using the wood grain and even gashing into the finish to create highlights. The group of panels read as paintings but as you look closer the texture from gouging, whittling and carving becomes apparent, it’s one of those magical moments when an artwork flips from one thing into another.
Artist Sean Carney ‘s stained wood panels depict iconic Philadelphia scenes by carving the surface, using the wood grain and even gashing into the finish to create highlights. The group of panels read as paintings but as you look closer the texture from gouging, whittling and carving becomes apparent, it’s one of those magical moments when an artwork flips from one thing into another.
Artist Paints Princeton Arts Council Building in “Homage to Michael”
“Homage to Michael Graves” by Sean Carney, wood stain on wood
Sean Carney, an artist in Lawrenceville, NJ recently posted his painting “Homage to Michael Graves” to MGA&D’s Facebook page. At first glance, it appears to be done with acrylics and oils, but upon closer inspection, it is done on wood using a dremel to carve the surface, using the wood grain and gashing into the wood to create highlights. We reached out to Sean to ask why he selected the Princeton Arts Council Building as the subject of his painting and to learn more about his unique painting style.
I wanted to emphasize the architect/artist connection so I decided on the Princeton Arts Council Building – Sean Carney
Tell us about yourself.
My Name is Sean Carney, I am a fine artist, a high school painting teacher at Lawrence High School and a doorman at Triumph Brewery in Princeton.
Sean Carney Portrait
Why did you select the Princeton Arts Council Building to paint?
There is an exhibit that I am applying for that asks you to choose an artist as your mentor and I decided to choose an architect as opposed to another painter. I knew that Michael Graves was a very well known local architect who was also an artist and championed the use of artwork in architecture, so the choice was easy. I also wanted to emphasize the architect/artist connection so I decided on the Princeton Arts Council Building. I have spent a lot of time in the building and drive by it all the time on my way to work on Saturdays.
What is your artistic medium of choice? Why that medium?
I paint with water based wood stain and I use a dremel to carve out the light. I don’t believe that any other artist is doing what I am doing. My process is pretty unique and I am very proud of that, it did not just come together over night it is something that I have been working on for some time now.
Why did you want to become an artist?
It is just something that I have always done. My mother sent me for private lessons, and I attended the School of Visual Arts in NYC for high school and received my BFA from New Jersey City University.
What do you like about architecture that makes you want to paint it?
Honestly at first it was about places I love, the buildings where just a place marker for memories with loved ones. I love going to Boston and Toronto and Princeton and while I am there enjoying myself I take my surroundings in and imagine painting them. The paintings of places are my connections to people.
What inspires you?
Everything and nothing I am always inspired. One of my favorite artists, Chuck Close, has a pretty famous quote where he says “Inspiration is for amateurs. The rest of us just show up and get to work.” That is exactly what I do, I just paint. Every day.
How do you think/want other people to respond to your art?
I want work to be relaxing, pleasing and thought provoking, like a great meal or a great song. I want people to recognize not only my creativity but my craftsmanship as well.
What’s your favorite piece of artwork?
I don’t really have a favorite, there is always this love hate relationship going on. I can tell you that every time I sit down to start a painting I am confident that I am going to fail miserably and every time I start to turn that corner and realize I am going to create a solid painting I fall in love with it.
Watch the time lapse video of the making of “Homage to Michael”
Tags: Princeton, Art in Architecture, Art
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Urban Agenda New York City May 5 · It's All Wood! Local fine artist, Sean Carney's "recent works on wood are done using only wood stain and a dremel. The texture of the wood and the limited color pallet of the stain are a pleasure and a challenge." Buy this unique piece, "Jersey Boys" or other incredible Sean Carney njworks on our online store: http://bit.ly/1EUprIE |
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Sean included a few “in the works” pictures which you can find further down. Sean says he soaked the bottles to help peel the labels off, divided them into different color piles and began constructing. He even points out that the cardboard used for the barrels were from our 6-pack carriers! Talk about being thorough in your craft!
Needless to say, Jim was blown away by the final product and surprised to see that so many beer bottle labels could make him look so good. To show his thanks, Jim shot this short video:
- See more at: http://blog.samueladams.com/arts-and-craft-beer/#sthash.r4weOim8.dpuf
Needless to say, Jim was blown away by the final product and surprised to see that so many beer bottle labels could make him look so good. To show his thanks, Jim shot this short video:
- See more at: http://blog.samueladams.com/arts-and-craft-beer/#sthash.r4weOim8.dpuf
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