We recently connected with Carol Steinberg and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Carol thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?
I really don’t know any other way to be. I’m kind of go with the flow and rely heavily on my feelings and intuition to tell me what to do next. I’ve almost never had a “regular job”–almost always sporadic and part time work. I do feel that a regular job might have helped me be more disciplined. And discipline is something I admire greatly. I do have a lot of it in myself, but one can always have more. I suppose it’s the opposite of doing what one feels like that is easier…but in a way, the discipline is actually easier–less decisions that need to be made.
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 started oil painting at 8 years old and always saw myself as an artist. But I also was fascinated by math, language, etc. so I studied art history and have a view of art that goes beyond realism and making art that look like photos. I have an appreciation and training in drawing and painting technique but always want to be true to my own voice and expression beyond pretty pictures. Nevertheless, I do gravitate towards beauty and joyful expression. I guess my work is kind of like me–going with the flow and yet admiring and incorporating discipline! People who own my art tell me it makes them happy. My work even appeared on an episode of House–as the work of an artist experiencing “adverse reactions”, lol! The woman who hired me assured me one had to be really good to be able to make “bad art.” And my work has been in some other movies and TV shows. I taught drawing for 23 years at LACC–part time. (And taught high school math in NYC and ESL to Amnesty students in the middle of the night in LA.)
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
Spending time creating puts one in an altered state. I meditate and do yoga daily…but honestly, I think art is more where I notice that my usual way of being has been suspended for a time. And then to bring a piece of that back for others–it’s the cherry on top!
Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?
The main resource I wish I had realized sooner is the value of a daily practice. I think having something like Instagram helps with that…but really, instead of all the workshops, classes, excuses, I wish I’d just realized this sooner.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.CarolSteinberg.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolsteinberg/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarolSteinbergStudio
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carol-steinberg-58b404/
- Twitter: @CarolSteinberg
- Youtube: @CarolSteinberg
Image Credits
taken by me so credit to Carol Steinberg?