We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lauren Bencivengo. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lauren below.

Hi Lauren, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

One of the most meaningful projects of my creative career so far is a public commission I was selected for. An art consultant contacted me after seeing some of my work on Instagram, and asked me if I would be interested is being considered for a project of theirs. The project was creating original paintings to be used in the labor and delivery floor of a new hospital being built in our city. I remember being so thrilled to be considered for a project like this. But I remember telling myself to not get my hopes up as I was only being considered. A few month pass and the consultant told me I was one of the selected artists and I was to create 20 large paintings for the patient rooms. Not only was this my first time getting any commission, it would be largest pieces I have painted yet, and it felt wonderful to be creating paintings that would be there for the women going through what could be the biggest moment of their lives. After finishing the pieces and dropping them off at the framer, I remember being sad to be parting with them, but so grateful for the journey they were going on.

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.

Carmela Designs is an art studio founded by Lauren Bencivengo in San Diego, California.

With a deep passion for art and design, I embrace the desire to enrich our homes with refined artwork, thoughtfully shaped by timeless aesthetics. Such art not only encourages a sense of self but also elevates our emotional experiences. My work is meant to serve as a symbol of the value of everyday beauty, living well, and purpose. After receiving a BFA in Interior Design from Miami University of Ohio, I started my career as a Commercial Interior Designer in San Diego, CA. In 2018 I established my art studio, Carmela Designs, to further express my passion and deepen my skills as an artist. I primarily works with Acrylic and Gouache, and am heavily influenced by design, nature, and everyday moments.

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

I believe the best thing someone could do to support artists and creatives is to have an interest, or the very least to have respect for the work they put out into the world for others to benefit from. Finding ways to build them up either by showing up at local events or providing support on their social media. Creatives and Artists provide so much to our society in a variety of ways, and I feel it is important to respect their work and passion. I personally dislike when people try to copy or minimize a creatives efforts because they do not feel it worthy to invest in the artists value. I do have concerns about how AI will impact the authenticity of the creative community, but I feel the potential impact of it relies in the responsibility of the user.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I recently completed Julia Cameron’s “The Artist Way” book, and I found a couple of the tools she utilizes to be very beneficial over the last couple of years, such as morning pages and artist dates. Both have helped me work through low or negative points in my creative process and provided opportunities to seek out inspiration and be authentic to myself, which further feeds my creative process.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.carmeladesigns.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/carmela-designs/

Image Credits
Jenna Selby took head shot (personal photo)