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Dee Cara was born in the Bay
Ridge section of Brooklyn, New
York, the setting for the movie,
“Saturday Night Fever.” It was
not unusual for three generations
of a family to live within blocks of
one-another. This was a hard-
working, blue-collar neighborhood
where few of its’ children
graduated high school and very
few of the graduates could afford
college.
The teachers at Dee’s grade
school recognized her talent for art
early in their association with her.
Her fascination with color, shading
and shapes developed under their
guidance. When it came time to
choose a high school, she was
encouraged to apply to Bay Ridge
High School. In those days, “Bay
Ridge” was a girls’ school that
specialized in the arts as well as
secretarial training. The school
accepted only highly
recommended students. With the
backing of her teachers, Dee was
accepted.
High School went by quickly. Dee
excelled in her classes that
included; acrylic, oil and water
color, calligraphy, fashion design,
and printing. During her senior
year, Dee competed in an art show.
The First prize was a full
scholarship to art school. Much to
the delight of her teachers as well
as to herself, Dee was the winner.
Ridge section of Brooklyn, New
York, the setting for the movie,
“Saturday Night Fever.” It was
not unusual for three generations
of a family to live within blocks of
one-another. This was a hard-
working, blue-collar neighborhood
where few of its’ children
graduated high school and very
few of the graduates could afford
college.
The teachers at Dee’s grade
school recognized her talent for art
early in their association with her.
Her fascination with color, shading
and shapes developed under their
guidance. When it came time to
choose a high school, she was
encouraged to apply to Bay Ridge
High School. In those days, “Bay
Ridge” was a girls’ school that
specialized in the arts as well as
secretarial training. The school
accepted only highly
recommended students. With the
backing of her teachers, Dee was
accepted.
High School went by quickly. Dee
excelled in her classes that
included; acrylic, oil and water
color, calligraphy, fashion design,
and printing. During her senior
year, Dee competed in an art show.
The First prize was a full
scholarship to art school. Much to
the delight of her teachers as well
as to herself, Dee was the winner.
A week’s pay was more important
than college. In those times, the
economic needs of family came first,
so Dee had to turn down the
scholarship and went to work in an
office. Marriage, then work and her
own family filled her time; and her
love for painting was once more set
aside. And again, time went quickly.
Retirement is for the few, but
fortunately this time Dee was
included. Visits by her
grandchildren, Anthony and Bella
included the usual tracings of little
hands and feet. This simple
exposure to childhood artistic efforts
uncovered in her grand children an
inherited love for more drawings
from a Grandmother who has much
to give.
So, Grandmother Dee rekindled
her own love for color and shading
and shapes. The Crestwood
Artists’ Guild welcomed her as a
member, just about a year ago.
Her easel is kept busy with her
works in watercolor, acrylic and
mixed media.
than college. In those times, the
economic needs of family came first,
so Dee had to turn down the
scholarship and went to work in an
office. Marriage, then work and her
own family filled her time; and her
love for painting was once more set
aside. And again, time went quickly.
Retirement is for the few, but
fortunately this time Dee was
included. Visits by her
grandchildren, Anthony and Bella
included the usual tracings of little
hands and feet. This simple
exposure to childhood artistic efforts
uncovered in her grand children an
inherited love for more drawings
from a Grandmother who has much
to give.
So, Grandmother Dee rekindled
her own love for color and shading
and shapes. The Crestwood
Artists’ Guild welcomed her as a
member, just about a year ago.
Her easel is kept busy with her
works in watercolor, acrylic and
mixed media.
| The Crestwood Art Guild is pleased to present this glimpse into the imagination of Dee Cara. |
. Dee Cara works from her imagination
and memory, seldom using models or
photos.
and memory, seldom using models or
photos.
