Meet Cara Heard | Founder, owner, artist at Lush Art

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cara Heard and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cara, how do you think about risk?
I am very much I would rather try and fail, than never try at all kind of person. I also believe without risk, there is no reward. While many likely find that cliché, I think there is comfort in being in that crowd. I find it much harder to relate with the “What if” crowd that never goes for it. I am not sure you can own a business and not feel that way. And I know even when you take the safer path, and prepare fully that hiccups can still happen and disrupt your peace. I would rather be in control of the disruption.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I moved to our town in late September, signed the lease in October, and opened in November. Not knowing a soul here.

I am most proud of the community we have built. I have watched kids grow up. I have watched people go from single, to married, to having kids. I have also watched people go from married to divorced to empty nesters. I have watched people deal with the grief of losing a partner and also losing a job they loved like a partner through art. We don’t have a demographic because we are for everyone in all stages of their life, this makes marketing a challenge.

If I could not hear one phrase for the rest of my life it would be “I can’t come to paint, because I can’t even draw a stick figure”. I have never asked anyone to draw a stick figure and everyone can paint. Can everyone paint like a master? No, but everyone can paint and learn to find enjoyment in the learning.

Nothing in this business has been easy, most of what I have learned has been the hard way. But I have learned and I try to take that lesson into the next day and do better. That is the way of art and business.

One thing that gives me great joy, is proving people wrong. I had a lot of you can’ts thrown at me over the years and to that I always say watch me. I may fail but I will go down trying. Without Lush Art I would not have found the community I found here. I would not be the person I am today, and I am pretty damn (you may need to clip that out) proud of her. I have traveled to Italy twice alone to paint and I am going to France for a month long artist residency in 2024. Lush Art has allowed me to check off many bucket list items and I can’t wait to see what else is in store. Financially, it has not been as successful as I would like.  Some things are more important than money.  

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Georgia has so much to offer and see. I think it would be great to show all aspects from the charming to the exciting. I would start with a day in Perry. Checking out the Farmers Market on Saturday morning, grab a coffee and sit outside at Morning by Morning coffee, maybe hit up one of their many festivals, enjoy a mimosa outside at Patio 901, have lunch and a local craft beer at Bodega Brew, walk through the neighborhood behind Lush Art and see the cute homes, of course treat her to a paint class a the studio, and then finish the night at Main Street Bar.

Once we recovered from our full day of drinking (they don’t call me the Lush for no reason) we would head to Macon for a day of merry. We would get coffee and a brown butter donut from Oh Honey Baking on Ingleside, grab a drink and listen to music at Society Garden. Head to downtown. I am a member of the coworking space, The Web, and I have Art hung there for sale.   I would show her that space and introduce her to the amazing women I have met through that membership. We would stay at a cute airbnb owned by local artist Joe Adams, and walk around downtown for the rest of the day. We could take a tour of the Hay House, the behind the scenes tour there is so great! Have lunch at Olivers, grab a beer at Fall Line, shop at 7th Street Salvage, and end with dinner and cocktails at Dovetail.

We would head to Savannah for a couple of nights. There we would wander without a plan. Going from square to square, stopping to enjoy the beauty when we want, grabbing food and drinks as we see interesting places, take the Architecture Tour, and walk in all the history and legends there.

To wrap up the week we would stay in Macon. Love staying near the Beltline to be able to walk to Ponce City Market, Krog Market, and all the places along the way. I love touring the street art at the tunnel and into Cabbagetown. Having an airport that flies anywhere is super helpful and convenient.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The community that has supported Lush Art in any way, this little dream has become so much more to me and others than I ever imagined. I have had amazing people on the stage teaching, behind the desk managing and being my keeper, and at the easel learning over our 10 years. I have learned so much about myself and also about others while in this role.

Website: www.paintwithlushart.com

Instagram: www. instagram.com/paintwithlushart and www.instagram.com/caraheardart

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/cara-heard-a2202812

Facebook: www.facebook.com/paintwithlushart

Youtube: www.youtube.com/@paintwithlushart