Cara grew up in Anchorage, Alaska where she developed her love of creativity and nature early on. Hiking and camping in the natural beauty surrounding her, as well as seeking refuge indoors on dark winter nights provided ample inspiration and opportunities to create and explore. Her connection to Alaska inspired the name of her business, Akcara Studio...
At the age of 17, Cara left Anchorage to study architecture at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. A year-and-a-half into her studies, she realized that fine art was a path more suited to her interests and began pursuing her degree in Visual Arts Education, with an emphasis in Painting and Drawing. She graduated with her BAEd in 2000 and spent the next year student teaching, interning and earning her Pre-K through 12th grade teaching certification.
Her next 10 years were spent in Ponca City, Oklahoma where she taught Art to Pre-K through 6th grade students in public schools, and became active in the local professional educators' association, serving on the executive board, traveling to NEA National Conventions, writing grants, and developing an indoor environmental quality team. She also spent six summers as an instructor for an education professional development program called Great Expectations, based out of Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, OK. Additionally, Cara served as a board member at the Ponca City Art Center where she also exhibited her work, taught children's art classes and volunteered on a variety of committees.
Looking for a change of pace and scenery, Cara moved to Dallas, TX in 2011 where she began working for the then up-and-coming paint-and-sip franchise, Pinot's Palette. Her time in Dallas and at Pinot's Palette allowed her the opportunity to work on developing her body of artwork, while continuing to exercise her educational and instructional skills, and she eventually took on a role training staff members at new Pinot's Palette franchise locations. By 2015, Pinot's Palette had become the fastest growing paint-and-sip company in the United States, and Cara was invited to take on the position of Artist Training Director at their corporate headquarters in Houston, TX, where she took charge of coordinating the small national team of elite Pinot's artists who train artist staff at both new and established franchise locations across the country.
Cara currently lives in Temescal Valley, CA with her husband Gary, and dog Kermit. She still directs the Pinot's Palette Artist Training program and travels to new studios from her satellite office, in addition to instructing both virtually and on location at nearby Pinot's Palette studios. She works on freelance and commissioned paintings, provides private art instruction and consulting, performs live painting at special events and works in a variety of media from her home studio. Most recently, Cara published her first book, a satirical adult coloring book titled White Jesus and Other Musings: Potentially Blasphemous Interpretations of Cheesy Religious Art… That You Can Color, and intends to publish additional coloring books in 2022. Her recreational time is spent playing in her garden, checking out local art and live music venues, wandering through antique markets, road-tripping, traveling internationally, and trying new restaurants.
At the age of 17, Cara left Anchorage to study architecture at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. A year-and-a-half into her studies, she realized that fine art was a path more suited to her interests and began pursuing her degree in Visual Arts Education, with an emphasis in Painting and Drawing. She graduated with her BAEd in 2000 and spent the next year student teaching, interning and earning her Pre-K through 12th grade teaching certification.
Her next 10 years were spent in Ponca City, Oklahoma where she taught Art to Pre-K through 6th grade students in public schools, and became active in the local professional educators' association, serving on the executive board, traveling to NEA National Conventions, writing grants, and developing an indoor environmental quality team. She also spent six summers as an instructor for an education professional development program called Great Expectations, based out of Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, OK. Additionally, Cara served as a board member at the Ponca City Art Center where she also exhibited her work, taught children's art classes and volunteered on a variety of committees.
Looking for a change of pace and scenery, Cara moved to Dallas, TX in 2011 where she began working for the then up-and-coming paint-and-sip franchise, Pinot's Palette. Her time in Dallas and at Pinot's Palette allowed her the opportunity to work on developing her body of artwork, while continuing to exercise her educational and instructional skills, and she eventually took on a role training staff members at new Pinot's Palette franchise locations. By 2015, Pinot's Palette had become the fastest growing paint-and-sip company in the United States, and Cara was invited to take on the position of Artist Training Director at their corporate headquarters in Houston, TX, where she took charge of coordinating the small national team of elite Pinot's artists who train artist staff at both new and established franchise locations across the country.
Cara currently lives in Temescal Valley, CA with her husband Gary, and dog Kermit. She still directs the Pinot's Palette Artist Training program and travels to new studios from her satellite office, in addition to instructing both virtually and on location at nearby Pinot's Palette studios. She works on freelance and commissioned paintings, provides private art instruction and consulting, performs live painting at special events and works in a variety of media from her home studio. Most recently, Cara published her first book, a satirical adult coloring book titled White Jesus and Other Musings: Potentially Blasphemous Interpretations of Cheesy Religious Art… That You Can Color, and intends to publish additional coloring books in 2022. Her recreational time is spent playing in her garden, checking out local art and live music venues, wandering through antique markets, road-tripping, traveling internationally, and trying new restaurants.
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