Carolyn Easley began drawing at a young age. Once her parents saw her strong interest for creating pictures, they purchased her a drawing board and art supplies.
After high school, she studied at the Memphis Academy of Art under artists Burton Callicott and Townsend Wolfe.
Before settling in Bruce she had the opportunity to work at Hayes Aircraft Corporation in Huntsville, Alabama. She helped design plans for such things as the Saturn missile manual and completed commercial art work for local businesses.
Moving to a smaller community limited Easley’s professional career as a commercial artist. She also had a busy family life that left little time for painting.
As her children grew older, she found time once again for painting. Easley began painting mailboxes, crosscut saws, saw blades, cotton bolls, magnolias, wildlife, tractors, horses, race cars, and anything else friends or others requested her to paint.
In the late 80s, she found herself displaying her art work at festivals including the Pearl Art Festival and the Bruce Sawmill Festival. Her work was also chosen for the cover of “Mississippi Outdoors” magazine.
She has two limited edition prints, Early Morning Buck and Ines’s Magnolias.
Easley has shared her talent with the community by way of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Ladies’ Auxiliary and the United Methodist Women’s groups. These organizations have kept her busy completing numerous graphic art projects for both groups in the way of records, photography, posters, and programs.
“God gave me this talent and I feel obligated to use His gift,” Easley said.
Easley is now enjoying retirement with husband Cliff, and children Billy, Robbie, and Leianne, and their children.
Creative skills run in the family. Her sons enjoy building and her daughter enjoys cake decorating. Two granddaughters are beginning artists.
She hopes to take more of her retirement time and paint with oils or draw with pen and ink. Easley paints mostly for enjoyment these days.
“I am just a person who loves art and the beauty it brings to the lives around us,” she said.