Ernest McCarty, a native of Chicago, now residing in Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania and New York City, has been an artist since he was a child. In Chicago he attended DuSable High School, Wilson Junior College and Roosevelt University. “I loved to draw as a child, but had no formal post high school art training. I was busy as a child being a musician!” Ernest started playing piano at age three and violin at age eight. While in high school the honor student played and helped conduct the All-Chicago Youth Orchestra. A man of many talents, McCarty regards his paintings and sculpture as therapy. “While I’m involved in performing, composing or writing, I petition the Muse and everything I do seems to flow naturally. If I follow that flow faithfully, life makes sense. It’s only when I try to control ...well, that’s when I slip up! Painting is a solitary experience, and it gives me the quiet space I need to work out any inner conflicts.”

Some of his career highlights as a professional painter, sculptor and designer include: Designed and executed all art for a number of restaurants in New York City, including one-of-a-kind, individually hand-painted glass lighting globes, art for menu covers; cover art for Latin jazz band Salsamba! Mambo del Sol CD; art and design for a line of commercial greeting cards; commissioned paintings, globes and murals.

Exhibit highlights include: C.B.A. Theatre Gallery in New York; The New Harlem Gallery in New York, and in Pittsburgh at The Carnegie Library, The Gallery on 43rd Street, LaRoche College Gallery, The Art Warehouse Gallery, The Three Rivers Arts Festival, James Street Restaurant, and Pittsburgh's Art Crawl 2013, among others.