Meet carylon cooper | visual artist

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

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art is journaling on a surface of canvas, cardboard or tar paper. Typically my art has one image and is presented in an honest straightforward manner. I’m excited about repurposing discarded card board and call attention to the beautiful outer façade and exposing the strength of the ridges inside. Magnifying the strength comes from within. I am where I am by the grace of God and long hours in the studio. The challenges were always external. They were not derived from studio work. But, the hard times called for more intention in the studio.
First I want people to know I believe every day is ordained by God. All my work is to His glory.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Taking a hike would be at the top of the list. Weather permitting we we eat at many of the wonderful outdoor restaurants. We would gather with my creative friends in one of our homes. The Southside in Chattanooga has many locally owed small businesses that we would wander through.
Biking is amazing along the Riverwalk The Sunday Market is great for locally grown produce and crafts people show their work.
If they are my best friends and glass of wine and time together are amazing anywhere!.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’ve spent two month long residencies at the Vermont Studio Center. Wolf Kahn is the Father of this wonderful place. They take 2 sculptors, 10 visual 2 dimensional artist, 2 poets and 10 writers for month long times. Wolf was a mentor in many ways. He was asked if he waited to be inspired to go into the studio, he answered, NO! I’m a painter, I put on my painting clothes and go to work. He was 94 when he died and painted up until his passing. He was a colorist. He was very inspiring. Louise Bourgeois is woman in the arts before too many women were recognized. Her sculptures of spiders gave honor to motherhood. She talked of the demon of ambition. I needed to hear that.
My Southside” friends are a group of artist, writers and innovated creatives. We meet regularly to connect and inspire.. .

Website: carylon.art

Instagram: carylon_anncooper

Linkedin: Carylon Cooper