Rising Stars: Meet Cara Jansen

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Cara Jansen.

Hi Cara, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
In true big-city fashion, my story started in a smaller town in Iowa, in my hometown of North Liberty to be specific. I’ve always loved art, but I wasn’t what you would call a natural artist. In fact, my friend was such a natural artist in High School that when I saw his work I convinced myself that I would not major in art in college.

Fast forward to college, I attended the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point and studied Interior Architecture there. I figured even though it wasn’t fine art I was still creating. Eventually, I moved to Colorado and was working as a Barista. During my time off I would spend sketching in coffee shops. It was then that my friend asked if I would design a tattoo for them. I said I could try, having never designed any before.

After that first design, I fell in love with creating small ink designs that really spoke to people’s hearts, so much so that they would put them onto their bodies. Now I do initial tattoo designs (I am not a tattoo artist though, important distinction). Essentially, I create an initial concept for people to take to their tattoo artists. I remembered my first tattoo, I was too “Midwest nice” to ask for any adjustments to the artist’s design.

So, I help people figure out their initial thoughts of what they may want and then let their tattoo artist take it from there, those artists will change the designs and shift them into the beautiful final products that people want but that way no one has to walk into a shop and feel overwhelmed and not know what they want.

I also design custom art, usually in the line of botanicals but I’ve been known to branch out and paint landscapes or Woodburn designs into cheese boards. I also continue to design space interiors from time to time at my current job with Thrive Workplace (a local coworking space). As a queer artist, it is so important to me that every person who reaches out for a design feels safe and important because they are. To create a safe space for everyone is a personal dream of mine.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I think the largest struggle I have had to face was herniating a disc in 2020 and being rendered immobile for 5 months. Obviously, COVID-19 was a very hard time for many reasons for many people, ask anyone and they will have an incredible story of strength from that time. My struggle started in March 2020, I lost my job, my mobility, and my health insurance.

To say it was scary is an understatement. I could only lay on the floor, sitting and standing for more than 15 seconds at a time would have me in tears and crumpled on the floor. It was in art that I found some happiness and peace. I worked on some larger pieces as well as small designs throughout those 5 months.

I also worked with an incredible local Chiropractor, Dr. Reinhardt, who helped me heal and gave me my mobility back over the course of that time). By July, I was able to sit long enough to paint again and then from there my range of mobility came back and so did my knowledge that it was all such a gift, my mobility, my art, my life.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I love to design tattoos which until recently has just been on ink and paper, I am now trying my hand at some digital designing. My designs tend to feature fine-lined botanicals, skeletal outlines, or some coffee themes but I love a new challenge. I also paint, I like to create landscapes inside of other shapes or designs, for example, my latest has two women kissing with a landscape painted into their torsos and heart spaces. I have also painted a landscape into the outline of a rooster!

I have just started playing with woodburning and have a deep love for throwing pottery too! There aren’t enough hours in the day for all the art projects I want to try and get better at. I think what sets me apart is that I have no ego when it comes to art, I love to create for people and have their visions come to life.

I have my own passion projects of course but when I am working on a commissioned piece you better believe we will chat all the way through to make sure it is something you really want and love! Communication and Art go hand in hand with me.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I think art always changes; I am hopeful that AI won’t put artists out of business. I know it is enticing to have a machine do things but supporting local artists is such an incredible experience you will never get with AI.

I think AI can be such a great tool to help artists when they feel stuck with a project but the labor of love that comes with creating your own piece is so worth it at the end. I hope this community and industry just continue to grow and break boundaries.

Pricing:

• $45/hour for commissioned pieces

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @onward_designs