Meet Carla Lawson | Visual Artist/ Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Carla Lawson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Carla, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I chose to pursue my artistic career when I was urged by my mother to consider how I would feel as a senior citizen looking back over my life and realizing that I never gave myself a chance to express myself creatively. When I thought about the depth of that, and some of the amazingly talented people who I’d encountered in life who never bet on themselves- it was an “A hah” moment. Once I started painting, I couldn’t stop, and the ideas kept coming. Everything became a muse. That’s when I knew that I needed to pursue art as a career.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
I’m not certain if I want to be set apart from other artists as much as I would like to be appreciated. Art is so subjective, I believe the one piece that makes someone stop and stare, think and feel enough to the point of where they have to have that piece of art- is what sets me apart at that moment and that’s enough for me.

I am most proud of my growth and the respect that I have gained for myself as an artist as well as for my work. The path to where I am today has been a rollercoaster of ups and downs, dips and dives. I made it this far by constantly allowing myself to acquiesce to different styles of creating and appreciating my capacity to be free in what I do. It was not easy. I had to learn everything through trial and error, from pricing to framing, what events were lucrative, who my demographic was, how to generate consistent revenue etc… It took years, time, some losses and a few heartaches to get it figured out.

To overcome the basic challenges and the unexpected ones that come with being a full-time artist, I had to study other artists who were already successful. I watched interviews, read their stories and asked questions. That along with the plethora of valuable information available through online platforms like YouTube and Google, began to fill in the informational gaps that were critical to surviving as an artist. That was only the first step though, the next step was implementation, which involved a whole another level of discipline and application. As time passed the things that worked stuck and things that weren’t for me began to fall off. Overall, I can honestly say that at this point the only thing I haven’t quite mastered is gaining exposure.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend was in town for a week, we’d have to start the week off with lunch at my favorite Eritrean restaurant in Oakland, Ca, Cafe Colucci, followed by some thrifting and sightseeing in Haight Ashbury, my favorite San Francisco go to. We definitely would have to find and catch either an off Broadway play or musical in SF, a live music performance at Yoshi’s in Oakland, a day for museum/ gallery hopping, a trip to Napa for wine/brandy tasting and we finish the week with a full spa day and a five-star dinner. It would easy to have a great time anywhere because we both enjoy people watching and we don’t have time restraints for our outings.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
From the beginning of my efforts as an artist using cheap paint, canvas boards, the wrong brushes, not knowing how to blend or what finishing touches were, my mother Jennifer Blackman, my cousin Toni Blackman and my aunt Ola Lawson were ecstatic, encouraging and excited about my pursuits as an artist. They raved about my beginning works as a self taught artist like I was a renowned fine artist. They never waivered in filling my cup, acknowledging my efforts and sharing my progress and creations. They respected me fully as a multi-dimensional artist well before I even began to fathom the fulness of my capabilities. Their support and encouragement at some times was my saving grace.

Website: https://carla-js-art.square.site
www.artwithpurpose.store

Instagram: @carlajsart

Twitter: isisthepoet

Facebook: Carla J. Lawson

Image Credits
McKenzie Brill