My Lifetime of Color: Oil Paintings by C.J. Szot (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781965733585)

Carol J. Szot started painting at age fourteen after years of watching her dad paint. She has had no professional schooling and is self-taught. Now, after more than forty-five years, she has developed a technique resulting from intense observation to fine detail. She paints strictly in oil paints on stretched canvas in a photorealistic style using lighting techniques and true color.

In the early years, she used subjects from calendars or postcards. Now most of her paintings are of pictures she photographed herself.

The inspiration for her work is the surroundings of everyday life. The majority of her work falls into four categories: homes and local historical buildings, still life, pet portraits, and scenic landscapes.

She has been commissioned on several occasions to create beautiful gifts for special occasions. Some were of varied topics as places of business or a private floatplane. Many have been of beautiful homes and beloved family pets.

Carol lives in Newton, New Hampshire, with her husband, Paul. She shares her work with her community, by hanging her work in public spaces like the library, police department, and town hall. She retired from painting in 2022 and now enjoys making quilts.