Honey Bear 2019-2025 for RED FLOOR TAKE OVER at Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum through January 18th, 2026

This is a long awaited time; finally finishing my Honey Bear painting.

Life is entirely different now, than my 2019 year. Most of the painting came through before the year was up, but it took me about 5 years to lay on the final marks. Thanks to Matt Dickson and the Red Floor Gallery team; I was able to push and finalize everything in time for the revival of Red Floor at the Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum. It is titled TAKE OVER and shows through January 18th, 2026 and includes work by over 80 regional artists.

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I hope to have completed paintings on my archive soon. For now, I have many works in progress at the same time and I cannot wait to complete each new painting I started the last few years. It must be the a d h d …..getting me got this whole time. It has got me aching for the light at the end of the tunnel, but I think I see it now.

Meanwhile, catch-up is the main feeling I feel… if I think about it too much.

I am aware, though, that life has been insane recently. & I am just happy to be here. I am ready for my participation trophy.

Mhamed Kabal

Carol Roque: I was exchanging messages with my friend Mhamed recently regarding his future endeavors in the art world when he asked me a few questions, in an informal impromptu-interview fashion. He mused on his at-first-glance take on my work and asked if I’d be offended if that was the only thing someone took from my work upon viewing it -abstract themes of coming of age and fantasy literature. I answered that it didn’t matter to me what someone took from my work, and that it was a success as long as it made them feel something, anything at all. I added that I did not have an explanation for my own work. Then, as it turns out, I prompted him by saying something like “if you think you can explain my work, be my guest!” Adding -I’d love to hear it! I imagine I said this jokingly, I can’t remember saying it, but Mhamed proceeded to think about it and told me he’d get back to me later.

In retrospect, that was a rather brash thing for me to say, whether meant it seriously or not, despite that uneasy feeling of having said something I wouldn’t expect myself to, I’m glad I said it. What Mhamed came up with resonated with me deeply, and I couldn’t help but want everyone who lays eyes on my work to have a chance to read it, too. His words struck me as incredibly thoughtful, beautiful, well conveyed, and better than anything I could ever come up with. With his permission I am publishing his words here and you can read them for yourself, below. Thanks Mhamed. Your words are a wonderfully dreamy narrative to my paintings, that I myself am motivated to upkeep.

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“The strongest talent at Roque’s disposal is her capability to fire beautiful emotional discharges with every stroke on canvas, its far more than a portrait or a sketch, it an intimate unwritten story between her, the subject, the art and the viewer. ”

— Mhamed Kabal

Mhamed Kabal: “I am starting this at 9am. When I explore Carol Roque's body of work its easy to lose sight of time and space. I often look at the characters and wonder if ever meet any of them at a dimly lit watering hole, one rare rainy night in what they call the valley of the sun. Another part of me see each painting as a window a haunting yet beautiful netherworld populated by creatures far more humanistic than us. Upon reviewing some of the work that inspired Carol, I can say without a doubt that she excels in every areas that her contemporaries may have fallen short. The strongest talent at Roque's disposal is her capability to fire beautiful emotional discharges with every stroke on canvas, its far more than a portrait or a sketch, it an intimate unwritten story between her, the subject, the art and the viewer. It brings me much joy to know of her work and to know that she is still alive, well and active in this mad deteriorating world. I am finishing this at 11:40am.”

Mhamed Kabal aka hddnmgmt

Half Full or Half Empty? - work in progress

I really like how this is looking, she started as watercolor and now has digital over top. It was made during a feeling of “is this good, or is this bad” … and you know I love putting things on top of people’s heads.

Art Process

My desk during the art making process. Working on multiple things at once.

Slumbering in Feelings

If I have to say what this painting is about, I'd say it's about feeling feelings.

Slumber

After being almost finished in my sketchbook for some time, tonight I "finished it" aka, rendered further details around her face and smoothed it over in general. Watercolor on paper. I still see spots that I could render further, but for now I was pretty satisfied. It looks a lot nicer than when I started with it tonight. Feels good to have painted today after all. I was very tired from my 3 day work week., yesterday involved a lot of standing.

I think it's finished.

I wish I had one more week to work on it.

WIP

Progress on my current small painting...I'd like to finish her tonight if I can.

Soaking it Away...

Oil on wood