Today we’d like to introduce you to Carol Booth.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Growing up, my mom and I often plotted our escape from the monotony of New Jersey to go to the many museums Manhattan offered. This exposure to the world of art planted a seed that later blossomed on the margins of my high school notebooks. My doodling evolved when I learned about fascinating artists like Duchamp, Van Gogh, and Dali. In my college years, you would find me lost in my sketchbook when I wasn’t lost in a textbook. It was my Junior year abroad in Strasbourg, France when my personal artistic style was conceived because I was surrounded by people and places that kept me inspired. Through the years I have been fortunate enough to move around and discover some beautiful locations. Now that I have landed in Boulder, the vivid colors and landscapes of Colorado are my new muse.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I believe that my biggest obstacle as an artist has been myself. Naturally, I am my own worst critic and that can be a hard thing to overcome. I also grew up in a culture that puts a very high value on education and how well children perform in that regard. I felt the need to prove my intelligence and competence in this little bubble of society. As a result, I was sheltering and devaluing my dreams of being an artist. In time I realized that it was too upsetting to try to live up to the expectations I had been projecting onto myself. After reassessing, I feel as though I can comfortably utilize my work ethic for something I value; my art.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
What I do is draw and paint. I use acrylics, watercolors and colored pencils mainly, but I also like to experiment with other mediums for fun! My work varies between abstract and impressionist. I am known for creating things with vivid colors and hidden shapes. When I paint I tend to focus on my brushstrokes, so when I show my finished product to someone else they find shapes and characters I hadn’t noticed! I get a kick out of hearing about what other people interpret. The experience is reminiscent of those psychology ink blots you see in TV and movies.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Happiness for humans is very nuanced and can be hard to comment on because it’s all about an individual’s perception. The things that make me happy are rarely material. Lately, I’ve been thinking about traveling and cultural exchanges. There is something about the free feeling of exploring a new place where the only thing to do is eat good food, listen to new music, and learn through conversation. From home, I find that hanging out with my pals and my dog, Bucco, is a source of my happiness because I am super grateful for them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lilcaart.wixsite.com/caart
- Instagram: @lilcaart
Image Credits
Jason Reschka Rocky Mountain Blueprint
