We were lucky to catch up with Carolyn Land recently and have shared our conversation below.

Carolyn, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Was there an experience or lesson you learned at a previous job that’s benefited your career afterwards?

Nature grounds me and art is a way I found to express my love of it and of life. I think the arts are all important to not only the happiness of all individuals but as a way to record history. When I went into education as an art teacher and learned that the first thing cut when budgets got tight were the arts, I felt a responsibility to find a way to bring the arts to children and now later, to adults who lost that creative ability.

Carolyn, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

During my 35-year tenure in the public education sector as a teacher, administrator, and college instructor. I spent a great deal of time writing curriculum to incorporate the arts into the general curriculum. I taught workshops demonstrating ways teachers could use the arts as motivation for learning. Inspired teachers can bring subjects alive by integrating the arts into the subjects they are teaching.

Since retirement from public education, I have spent time teaching adults to reconnect with the creative process. We are all born creative! However, for some people, somewhere along the way they put aside that natural ability. It could be life circumstances, or because a few well-meaning adults told them they did not do it right often enough that they felt inadequate in the area of creative artistic ability. I hope I am bringing them back to their creative core. I love working with these older adults. They are so motivated to learn and discover something new and discover the joy of creating.

When I am not teaching, I am in my studio painting, showing my work in local galleries, participating in shows, and spending time in nature gathering ideas. I was born and raised in the NYC metropolitan area, as I moved from the concrete jungle to an area with more natural surroundings, I developed a persistent emotional attachment to nature and believe that it is the most authentic experience one can have.

I am fascinated by the intricate designs created within the small space of one’s vision. The lines, forms, colors, and textures in the natural elements motivate my work. I reach deep within myself to express an image that will touch the viewer as it has me or cause the viewer to look more closely at the wonders that surround us.

Part of learning to see as an artist, has been to find the possibilities in the abstracted shapes and color masses, found in nature: the rock formations, the bark of a tree, the rivulets of water from a rainstorm, the web of a spider. I use various methods to create my paintings. Some are textural surfaces which I create, then paint over. Others are collages or mixed media pieces which I create using handmade papers, dyed and embellished recycled papers, natural fibers, and acrylic paint.

I frequently use natural elements in my work. These elements must be dried, pressed, and prepared for use. I put a lot of time into making the supplies I use in my collages and mixed media work.

I also write a blog once a month on our “Creative Spirit”. www.perceptionsbycaland.com It started as a way to answer questions more fully, for my students, that did not get covered in class. It has since become much more philosophical and is reaching more than just my students as it deals with the importance of developing our creative abilities.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

Society puts a lot of pressure on us to get things right…to be perfect. As a result, many people when they fail feel like they can’t. I have learned that failure does not define us but makes us stronger. We learn through our mistakes. They teach us to problem solve. Failure is success in process.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Helping people find their artistic voice has been very fulfilling. It is also very motivating. Their excitement inspires me. When you’re passionate about what you do and you genuinely love the people you’re surrounded by, you grow. Continuing to grow is all important to our health and wellbeing.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.perceptionsbycaland.com
• Instagram: Perceptionsbycaland
• Facebook: Carolyn A Land and Carolyn Reid Land
• Linkedin: Carolyn A Land

Image Credits
by artist