Carol Funke began drawing as a young child and has always had an interest in art. Mrs. Funke was also inspired by and studied under internationally acclaimed Southwestern artist the late Frank Howell. Carol studied art in college and has continued her education and love of art throughout her life. Carol has studied art in several states in the U.S., as well as internationally. In 1994 Carol and her husband, Bob, had the opportunity to live abroad. While living in Hong Kong, Carol furthered her studies in the art of handmade paper. Since handmade paper began in China she wanted to learn the "old" way of making paper. Carol also conducted handmade paper workshops to ex-pat women through the America Women's association. In 1996 Carol and Bob moved to Budapest, Hungary, where Carol also studied handmade paper makers and taught paper classes through the International Women's Club Foundation and the American Women's Association of Budapest. In 2006 Pat Oplinger and Carol teamed up together to publish a unique book of art revealing Carol and Pat's counterpoint personalities and collective wisdom through word and visual images. The first book In the Playhouse of My Mind was published in 2007. In the fall of 2008 Scattered Rainbows was published and then in 2009 Life on a Seesaw was published.

Carol has exhibited her award winning art work in Washington D.C., Denver, Colorado, Little Rock, Arkansas, North Carolna, Iowa, Louisiana, Missouri, South Carolina and several other states. She has received several awards in watercolor and handmade paper such as the Baber Award, Helen Frater Award, Strathmore Award, Best of Shows, National Honors and Artists Magazine Honors. Other honors include:
•Art exhibit at the Cultural Center in Spartanburg, SC September 1-27, 2010
•Art exhibit at the Bluewood Gallery, Brevard, North Carolina 2010
•Exhibited in the 56th Annual Juried Spartanburg Artists Guild Juried Show in 2010
•Published third book Life on a Seesaw, 2009
•Published second book Scattered Rainbows, 2008
•Second Place in the Spring Invitational at Spring River Artists Guild competition for “Walk With Me,” pointillism piece, 2008
•Second Place in “Mail In” competition at Margaret Harwell Museum for “Signs of Spring” a handmade paper piece, 2008
•Published First book In the Playhouse of My Mind, 2007
•October, 2007 – Exhibit at the Bellwether Art Gallery in Springfield, Missouri
•Faith Hope Love (handmade paper) was accepted for an exhibit by the Department of Arkansas Heritage Annual Small Works on Paper exhibition which tours 11 cities in Arkansas for 2008