FACES IN THE CROWD
Artist juggles creative careers with law practice
Furlong's music, painting ventures continue to evolve
By ARLENE NISSON LASSIN
Chronicle Correspondent

She is an artist specializing in postmodern acrylic and oil paintings. She is a singer who has recorded two CDs. And she is an attorney with her own practice, specializing in labor and employment law.

While painting started out as a hobby, Furlong considers it more of a career now that she is spending a large portion of her time with her artwork. She has established a studio above her garage at her West University home, which she shares with her husband of seven years, attorney Randall Furlong.

Caroline Furlong had some private art lessons as a child, but most of what she knows she taught herself. She admits she paints slowly, spending as long as three months on a piece.

Thin places
Her series of seascape oil paintings, called "Thin Places," is on display in the gallery of St. John the Divine Episcopal Church, 2450 River Oaks Blvd., through Oct. 31.

"Places where people feel most strongly connected with God's presence are referred to as thin places in the Celtic tradition," Furlong said. "Thin places occur where two levels of reality meet or intersect and the veil between this world and the eternal world is especially transparent.

"Although 'Thin Places' may not necessarily be attached to geography, the paintings in this series reflect physical locations that have been thin places for me - the shoreline, the endlessness of the horizon, the transparency of water."

Furlong took private lessons with the Texas artist, Ethel Crittenden, from 8 to 13 years old. But Furlong didn't consider painting as a career as she pursued her studies in college and law school.

She graduated from Rice University with a bachelor's degree in English and Spanish, before getting her law degree from the University of Texas School of Law.

She now feels fortunate that she can find a balance in doing the creative work she loves, while maintaining her career as an attorney. Furlong's artwork is regularly featured at Bering & James Gallery at 2482 Bolsover in the Rice Village. It is also on view at her Web site at www.carolinefurlong.com.

"I feel like my art is really evolving," she said. "I am developing my art just by spending more time with it. My earlier work was more representative and quite different from my more current work."

Fusing the deep sense of spirituality she shows in her painting style into music, Furlong has recorded contemporary Christian music CDs under her maiden name, Caroline Bowles - the same name she uses for her law practice. The CDs are available on her other Web site, www.radioangel.com.

Collecting reviews
Describing her style as "New Age music set to traditional Christian hymns," she has received good reviews for her unique spin on traditional Celtic hymns.

"I love my music, too, and I am spending about 10-15 hours a week singing at church gigs, jazz gigs or at parties," she said. "The music and art are tied to the same spirit - an exploration of reality with a meditative Christian viewpoint."

When she's practicing law, Furlong relishes her role in helping people who are having problems at their jobs.

"I got into employment law because I like working with people and helping them with issues," Furlong said. "No matter what side of the docket I am working on, I have found this work to be rewarding.

"In working with human resource people representing corporations, I see that they want to effect positive change for employees. It is also gratifying representing someone who feels strongly that they were wronged and try to help them."