About Akcara StudioA self-proclaimed “serial dabbler” based in Temescal Valley, California, Cara Calvert-Thomas creates personal and commissioned paintings, offers freelance creative services, provides private art instruction and consulting, performs live painting at special events, and works in a variety of media from her home studio. She has also served as an Artist-In-Residence for the U.S. National Park Service and for private corporations. Her greatest creative passion lies in collaborating with others and helping people bring their creative vision into a reality.
Although Cara is able to adapt her painting techniques to fit a variety of styles and tastes, her personal work is generally based on themes of science and nature, and features bold, saturated colors that are often perceived as abstract or even cartoonish. Some have compared her use of shape, form and color to Pop Art, Post-Impressionism or Fauvism; others simply describe it as “fun”. While Cara typically does have a deeper personal meaning within the subject matter and palettes she chooses, she is also a firm believer that art should be enjoyed by any viewer (or maker) in whatever context they bring to it, and loves to hear what others experience while viewing her work.
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BioCara 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, Texas 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, 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. In 2017, Cara had the opportunity to relocate to Southern California where she instructed virtually and on location at nearby studios, and continued traveling to new studios while directing the Pinot's Palette Artist Training program from her satellite office until 2022.
In 2021, 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 2023. Most recently, Cara launched the Akcara Studio Boutique featuring unique clothing and home decor items featuring her original works of art. 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 with her husband Gary.
Looking for a change of pace and scenery, Cara moved to Dallas, Texas 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, 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. In 2017, Cara had the opportunity to relocate to Southern California where she instructed virtually and on location at nearby studios, and continued traveling to new studios while directing the Pinot's Palette Artist Training program from her satellite office until 2022.
In 2021, 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 2023. Most recently, Cara launched the Akcara Studio Boutique featuring unique clothing and home decor items featuring her original works of art. 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 with her husband Gary.
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