“I’m just a grateful person,” declares Caroline Riddle. “When it comes to my art, to where I am in life, overall and overwhelmingly, I just feel gratitude. There’s not much else to say.”
When faced with a book as open and a subject as effusive as local painter Caroline Crawford Riddle, all of my hard-digging investigative journalism tactics are as useless as a screen door on a submarine. Like her inviting, expressive work, she is refreshingly approachable—and it’s clear why the Greenville art community has fallen for her.
“I’ve been painting for more than 20 years. I’m originally from Eastern North Carolina, and have lived in Boone, so I gravitate toward landscapes and seascapes from the coast and mountains. Recently, I’ve focused on tying my recovery with alcohol into my work. Not only is it therapeutic, but I’ve used it to reach out to others who are suffering from addiction,” says Riddle. “I’m very involved with FAVOR (Faces and Voices of Recovery), and I’ve done shows about healing and recovery, where some portion of the proceeds go toward the organization. My painting has become such a blessing as an outreach tool, and I’m so grateful for it.”
If you recognize her style, it’s because her work is popping up in fun new spaces and iconic shops all over town—including a large-scale, digital installation of one of her paintings in Camperdown Plaza. “Currently, I have some pieces at Art Houzze Gallery at Falls Tower, Kate Carlyle on Augusta Street, and Bennetts’ Frame and Art Gallery, as well as in the Bonjour Main restaurant, which rotate out as they sell,” the artist adds.
Just as Riddle seeks to give of herself to her community, the creative community has returned the favor wholeheartedly. “I’ve been so blessed. I have work in doctor’s offices and businesses, homes and personal collections. I so love the art scene in Greenville—we’re fortunate to have the wealth of art and enthusiasts that we do here,” Riddle beams. “The relationships between local artists and art organizations are strong. We admire each other’s work, and we’re very supportive of each other. I don’t feel like there’s competition—just encouragement.”
From her palette to her demeanor, Riddle has an infectious, joyful spirit that is hard to ignore. “I genuinely want to help other people and want my art to help other people—and I hope that is clear to those who are drawn to it. But what I often hear at shows and galleries, without people knowing me as a person first, is that they love the texture in my work, and all of the vibrant colors.”
When asked to describe her style, words like abstract, impressionistic, and loose come to mind. “I think the joy and gratitude I have comes through me and onto that canvas and is expressed in bold color and beauty,” shares Riddle. “I feel like we all encounter hard things in our lives, and I’m grateful to have come out on the other side of what I went through. Now, my deepest desire is to help others, and I can’t be quiet about it, because how else do you reach those who might need it? The response I get when people hear my recovery story and see my art has just been incredible.”
Photography by Will Crooks
