We recently connected with Carly LaFlamme and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Carly thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

One of the first times that I realized I wanted to pursue art professionally was after the reactions I had gotten to certain pieces. My childhood love of art was rekindled about 7 years ago when I began painting and creating decorations for my classroom as a teacher. When I would put a completed project up in my room, and see the kids faces light up with excitement when they saw it, I knew right away that I wanted to create more pieces that gave everyone the ability to experience that feeling. I still keep that idea as one of my main goals when painting today.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I have always been creative, and grew up drawing and painting at every opportunity I had. As I got older, though, daily life took over and I didn’t have as much time to focus on art. My love for it was rekindled making those decorations for my classroom, and after that it was full steam ahead back into my passion for painting. I am self taught, so I have spent endless time practicing new techniques, going through the ups and downs of trial and error, and perfecting my skills. In my shop, I offer a range of pieces to accommodate every price range, from original canvas paintings to art print reproductions. Lately, I have also worked on a lot of custom paintings and pet portraits, which has been a fun new adventure. I believe that art, and the joy that it brings to any space, should be available and accessible to all.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

I believe that society should try and support small artists whenever possible! Whether buying art for themselves or a gift for a loved one, purchasing directly from an artist instead of going to a big box store can make a change in creating a thriving environment for artists. I mean, what is better than gifting a personalized, one of a kind art piece? In addition to that, sharing an artists work with your friends or on social media is a huge (and free) way to help a small artist gain exposure to people who may have otherwise never seen their work.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

When I first got back into painting, I thought that every piece had to be photo-realistic and perfect. As I continued on my journey as an artist, though, I realized that what makes art so special is the ability to create things that aren’t or can’t be captured in a photo. If all art was photo-realistic, what would be the difference between owning an art piece vs just taking a photo? Don’t get me wrong, realism can be absolutely beautiful, and I do love to challenge myself with it from time to time; but I have had to unlearn my original though and teach myself that I can create unique and interesting pieces that capture something a camera cannot. A viewer of a piece can tell when you have put your heart into a painting, and sometimes that comes in a stylistic take on a real moment, a photo-realistic piece, or a completely abstract work. I believe that is what makes art so special; that each piece is unique and that there are no right or wrong ways to create.

Contact Info:

• Website: carlyrosedesigns.weebly.com
• Instagram: @carlyyrldesigns
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carlyyrldesigns/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carly-laflamme-519189222
• Twitter: N/A
• Youtube: N/A
• Yelp: N/A
• Other: Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/carlyyrldesigns