Today we’d like to introduce you to Carol Acedo.
Carol, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My creative journey began when I drew a little portrait of my family on an index card. I was only three years old, and my parents were so amazed that they showed it to everyone who came near the house. It was then that I discovered the joy that art can bring to others and all I wanted to do is make more of it. I believe that we are all born with a desire in our heart to create. After all, we were made in the image of God and He is the creator of all things. We are all artists. Some of us create literature, while others create buildings, bridges, meals, spreadsheets, etc. Whatever your gift may be, you are an artist when you are doing what you were uniquely made to do.
I have been gifted with being both analytical and creative. I always felt that I was too artsy for engineering, yet too methodical to be a traditional artist. I decided that a career in Industrial Design best suited my set of talents. I earned my degree at N.C State University, and after working in a myriad of industries, I eventually landed a position as the in-house designer for a large manufacturer of commercial outdoor lighting in southern California. Throughout my years in college and while working, I managed to create a few paintings a year but my art was just something I did in my spare time. I met my husband in California, and eventually he decided he wanted to start a new business in commercial construction management. He needed to be closer to the center of the country and near a major air terminal, so I left my Industrial Design position and we moved to Fort Worth. I had lived in Dallas prior to moving to California and I was thrilled to be coming back to Texas! Once here, I struggled to find local work in my design niche. My previous employer contacted me about doing some 3D visualization work for their marketing department. At the same time, one of my husband’s first clients was in search of an artist to produce large, original paintings of Jazz/Blues artists for their international chain of coffee shops. I painted a few samples for them and was approved as the the vendor for their artwork! In early 2006, I set up my company, Invizion Art Inc., to incorporate Industrial Design, 3D Visualization, and my artwork.
Has it been a smooth road?
The road to where I am now definitely had some detours and potholes. After college, none of the design firms I approached were hiring. Some of them offered to review my portfolio anyway, and I walked away with some constructive criticism and my tail between my legs. I had to eat, so I worked wherever I could. I was a Receptionist, a Graphic Designer, a Drafting Clerk, a Fitness Trainer, A Visual Merchandiser, an Electrical and Mechanical Drafter, a Mechanical Designer, and a Machinist. It wasn’t until after my Mom passed away after a long battle with cancer that my road was made straight and smooth. It seemed like she had God’s ear, whispering, “Don’t forget about my Carol!” At the time, I was in my late twenties and had been working for a lighting manufacturer in Carrollton, TX for several years when out of the blue, a head-hunter called and suddenly I was off to California for my dream job!
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Invizion Art story. Tell us more about the business.
My business is three-fold. I exclusively design luminaires and consult on their design with various commercial lighting manufacturers around the country. I also help my clients market their products by providing images for catalogs and websites by creating 3D Visualizations of their products in their application. In this segment of my business, I am known for designing lighting products whose form and detailing melds with their intended surrounding architecture or space. What sets me apart is my focus on aesthetics and quality, along with my understanding of how lighting works as an element of design in a space whether the lighting fixture is on or off. The third part of my business is creating Art. I started out doing commercial art, mostly for restaurants, hoping to one day transition to having my artwork in galleries and exhibitions. While producing hundreds of original commissioned paintings for clients, my own artistic style and techniques for creating my art emerged and now this dream is now coming true. After long evenings in the studio, and entering many juried shows, I now have a relationship with four galleries and have had several exhibitions. Currently, my solo exhibition, “Dust Till Dawn” can be seen as part of the larger exhibit, “Cultura Del Vaquero” featuring all western-themed artwork at the Fort Worth Community Art Center in the Cultural District. What makes my art unique is that I paint my subjects in a realistic style, using acrylic paint on raw canvas. My paintings are usually monochromatic or feature desaturated color, which gives the appearance of an old sepia photo. The raw canvas has a soft, matte, light absorbing surface that adds to the peaceful mood of my paintings.
As a company, I am proud of the longevity and the integrity of my business. I always strive to do the right thing when faced with challenging situations. Still, I am most proud of the relationships I have built over the years in both the lighting industry and in the art community. Some of my best friends are my colleagues and clients in the lighting industry and my fellow artists and patrons.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
In regards to Industrial Design trends in the lighting industry, I see a shift towards the luminaire’s form expressed in pure architectural shapes, such as squares, rectangles, cylinders, etc., and away from the visually “busy” industrial look, with exposed hardware and cooling fins as predominant features. I also see customers looking to buy high-quality, dependable lighting products made in America, as some of the cheaper imported LED products begin to fail and the imposed tariffs lessen the price gap between the two.
In the local art community, I see more artists shrugging off the traditional paths to success and finding their own ways to have their artwork seen by creating collectives and organizing pop-ups. There is a culture and a network of artists that are encouraging and equipping one another to be successful and it is exciting!
Contact Info:
- Address: 7224 Brady Oaks Drive
Fort Worth, TX 76135 - Website: https://www.artworkarchive.com/profile/carolacedoart
- Phone: 9098219175
- Email: invizion.art@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolacedoart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Invizionart/
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