Driven to Paint: The Relentless Creative Pull of Sean Carney

The Artist Is In

Guest: Sean Carney

In this episode of The Artist Is In, I sit down with painter and educator Sean Carney, whose creative drive is as relentless as it is inspiring. Sean doesn’t romanticize the process—he simply has to paint. It's a need, an obsession, a daily practice that grounds him and gives shape to his days. We talk about what it's like to be pulled to the canvas (or in his case, wood) again and again, not for recognition, but for the pure love of the act itself.

Sean also shares how teaching has deepened his understanding of painting—how guiding others through the process sharpens his own instincts and keeps him connected to the joy of discovery. Whether he’s alone in the studio or in a room full of students, Sean shows up with the same energy: present, passionate, and always ready to paint. This episode is a testament to what happens when you follow the creative pull all the way in.

🎤 About Sean Carney:

Sean Carney is a representational painter based in New Jersey. His work explores the intersection of Pop Art and Photorealism, focusing on iconic automobiles as symbols of progress, ambition, and American culture. Through bold compositions and meticulous detail, Carney captures the essence of these vehicles—rendering reflections, curves, and chrome with a sense of stillness and reverence.

Carney holds a BFA in Studio Arts with a concentration in painting from New Jersey City University. He also studied at Montserrat College of Art and the School of Visual Arts in New York City. His paintings have been exhibited extensively throughout the East Coast and internationally, earning recognition from collectors and curators for their technical precision and conceptual depth.
He has presented solo exhibitions at venues including Cerulean Arts (Philadelphia), the Arts Council of Princeton's Solley Gallery, Exhibit B Gallery, and Princeton University. In 2016, Carney received the Mercer County Culture and Heritage Purchase Award, and in 2018 he completed a residency at the Princeton Public Library through the Arts Council of Princeton.
Carney's most recent solo exhibition, Philly Scenes, was featured at Borrelli’s Chestnut Hill Gallery in Philadelphia in 2024.

Website: https://www.carneystudios.net/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carneystudios/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SeanCarneyNj/

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EPISODE CREDITS
Produced, edited, and mixed by Kat Collins Studio
Artwork designed by Kat Collins Studio

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