We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Caroline Stroud a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Caroline, thanks for joining 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 am very happy overall as a full time creative but just like with any job there are hard days where the grass seems greener on the other side. I had a full time job at a corporate office for one year before taking the plunge into art full time so luckily I do not have to ask the “what if” questions or imagine what a different career would be like. For me, the benefits of being self employed outweigh the cons but there have been some scenarios that make me miss the office days.

I would say the hardest aspect of my job is the self-promotion. I am the product I am selling- I am selling my vision and my creativity. Putting myself out there regularly in a vulnerable position is hard, for me at least. There were days where I wouldn’t post to instagram or paint anything because of crippling anxiety of putting my work out there to be judged or criticized. I ended up hiring a PR company that took over my social accounts and the job of promotion. This helped me separate myself from my artwork and I no longer felt like the product. This in turn allowed for more creative risks and freedom in my studio. Recognizing and outsourcing my weaknesses is one of the best decisions I have made.

While I sometimes miss the anonymity that a large corporate job can provide I realized that standing in the shadows did not push me to step out of my comfort zone and grow into the person that I am today.

Caroline, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Caroline Stroud and I am originally from Macon, Georgia and now work and reside in Atlanta, Ga. I have painted my entire life but never viewed it as a job opportunity until college. At UGA, I was doing any commission I could get- pet portraits, football paintings, downtown Athens scenes. In addition to these commissions, I saw an emerging demand for live wedding painters. This trend was fairly new in 2017 and one that that I knew I had the skills (i.e. painting quickly) to at least try it out. My first wedding painting gig was a gift to a family member who was tying the knot. I was then hooked after that first wedding. After graduating college, I slowly built up my wedding gigs on the side while working full time. After about a year of juggling both I plunged head first into art full time.

Right now, I specialize in live wedding paintings on the weekends as well as more abstract creations that I paint during the week.
For my weddings, I arrive at the ceremony venue two hours before it starts to paint in the background. Then, I snap a picture of whatever scene the couple wants to be painted (first kiss, first dance, etc.). I reference that photo the rest of the night and finish on site. It is not only entertaining for guests but also a lifelong keepsake for the bride and groom to keep. I believe my services help shape the night of your wedding into one you will never forget. In my studio, I have taken on two series- my “Cheers” series and my Floral Collage series. Both series encapsulate what my brand is all about- taking a whimsical twist on happy moments in life.

Some work that I am most proud of has been my collaborations with the Atlanta Braves. They were gracious enough to hire me in 2019 for their ChopFest Gala and in 2022 for their Staff Appreciation event. For both events I was commissioned to create a large interactive piece of work. The ChopFest Gala piece was auctioned off and the 2022 World Series Championship painting found its home in the Braves game day staff locker room. This was a very surreal moment in my career as I was able to artistically contribute to a celebration the entire state of Georgia had been waiting for since ’95 (the last time Atlanta won a world series). That was a very emotional piece of work for me to complete and one I will always be proud of.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

It is futile to try and force creativity. When there is a lull in productivity, I think that is sometimes viewed by non-creatives as laziness. A lot of the work is being done in my head before I even start painting on the canvas. I am constantly thinking of inventive ways to convey my work and a lot of that is through thought and experiences. There are some days when I am mentally drained and anything I create would be a reflection of my exhaustion.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is seeing a piece that you created resonate with a collector enough for them to house it. Something that you sat down, drew up, thought about and crafted together was exactly the piece a collector was looking for. That is such an amazing connection to me. Painting commissions also lights me up when I can let a person relive a great sports moment, remember a loved one who has passed or memorialize a pet through a painting.

Contact Info:

• Website: carolinestroudart.com
• Instagram: @caroline_stroud_art
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carolinestroudart