Meet Kalon Carpenter | Artist and certified therapeutic recreation specialist

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

Hi Kalon, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
It’s a bit of a long story. My brother was in a nearly fatal car crash in 2018 and miraculously lived. He sustained a traumatic brain injury and we spent almost 73 days in ICU’s and rehabs. During that time, so many people stepped in to help and shared their gifts/talents with my family. I named my business after that experience and decided share my artistic gifts/talents with others as a way to repay the kindness we were shown and to share his story. Thus light life love designs was born.

I began a new business venture in April for adults with special needs called the Sunshine Studio which aims to help participants with job skills training. I have worked with people with special needs for a very long time and I have seen this need for post graduate programming. I decided I could again use my gifts/talents in a different way to help them achieve their employment or independent living goals.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I have been making art my whole life. Everyone always says I’m “the crafty” one of the group. I like learn and teach myself new things all the time and art was no different. I like to dabble in many things because I enjoy making and creating things for others. I like dreaming and creating with clients to make their visions come time life.

I got to where I am by word of mouth mostly. I am no good with social media or anything like that so I focus on delivering quality products/artwork for each customer. I figured if people liked what I made for them they’d come back for other ideas or at least tell their friends. So far it’s worked! I may not have a huge “following” but I have many repeat customers. That trust and relationship with customers is not something I take for granted.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Living near Athens means there is always something fun an exciting to do.

Obviously you’d have to check out a uga football game, take a walk downtown, and eat at one of a kind restaurants.

My favorite Irish pub is royal peasant. My favorite brunch spot is mamas boy. My favorite ice cream spot is scoops. My favorite coffee shop is jittery joes.

Fun things to see around town is the see a show at the Georgia theater, visit Watson mill covered bridge,
Uga botanical gardens, wire park, Washington farms, and bear hollow zoo.

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?
Jennifer Lancaster. She is the proud owner of Lice Ladies Athens. She is also my mentor snd helps me in more ways than one with my business ventures.

Website: Lightlifelovedesigns.com

Instagram: @light.life.love.designs

Other: @sunshinestudioevents

Image Credits
If you need more photos of what we do at the sunshine studio please let me know.