UncategorizedMay 12, 2021

Meet Cara Lockwood | Artist, Teacher, and Creative Life Coach

Local Stories

We are thrilled to be connecting with Cara Lockwood again. Cara is an Artist, Teacher, and Creative Life Coach and is also a content partner. Content partners help Voyage in so many ways from spreading the word about the work that we do, sponsoring our mission and collaborating with us on content like this. Check out our conversation with Cara below.

Hi Cara, so great to have you join us again. For folks who might have missed our earlier conversations, can you please take a minute to briefly introduce yourself?
I am a self taught artist. Several years ago, I felt a calling to create. I had a successful career as an education consultant in the Early Childhood field. For many years, I truly loved what I had been doing and what I had accomplished. But my love of children and working with teachers, had increasingly become a behind the computer job. I believe that spending so much time behind a screen is what prompted me to have a desire to create. I started by painting and flipping furniture. It didn’t take long for me to realize that I had love for color and creativity. I loved trying new things and experimenting with new looks and new mediums. I was hooked!

The creative pull became stronger and stronger as time went on. I found myself yearning to create… My day was centered around how quickly I could finish my work so I could get that paint brush in my hand. My husband loved what I was doing and saw how much joy it brought me, but it was still a bit shocking when I told him I needed to quit my job! This mid-life awareness provoked many conversations, which in the end found us moving from California, to Texas in order to create a new life, centered around creativity.

Great, so last time we talked you were plugging away in the furniture painting business, creating bright, inspirational pieces to serve as statements. You had also told us about your journey to becoming an artist and your creative subscription group. Tell us what’s new!
I am still painting furniture, and retailing paint, and have really focused on canvas work, but my passion is teaching and coaching. Once a preschool teacher, and an educational coach, it seems that the joy of working with women who want to create, and perhaps build a career in the creative field is where my heart is at home. I’ve taken courses to become a certified life coach and can now call myself a Creative Life Coach.

I facilitate two online subscription membership groups. Cara’s Color Me Creative – Artists in the Making is all about art, empowerment, and personal and creative growth. We enjoy a community of mutually supportive women looking to advance their creative skills, and some wishing to create a new career. Cara’s Color Me Creative – Business Builders is a group of women working together to focus on growing their career in the creative field. Our motto is Art, Community, Collaboration, because we believe that as artists, we excel when supporting each other, rather than competing. We believe that there is space for everyone in this big world!

One last thing! I now have an amazing studio space at the Millhouse Foundation in McKinney, Texas. The Millhouse Foundation is a non-profit foundation with a mission to support women creative entrepreneurs. It’s a beautiful location at the Historic Cotton Mill. A must visit for anyone traveling near McKinney.

You have a great passion for working with women. Can you tell us a little bit about how these passions developed, and what your core beliefs are in regards to women in business?
Yes! When leaving my career in the education field and entering into new creative territories, I really had no idea that this is where my heart is happy. 2 years ago, I started my online creative group. I thought I would teach canvas painting and creative workshops. It soon became evident that the need was for community, support, collaboration, encouragement. The group grew, and I became so in love with working with the amazing women who had joined me on the adventure. I realized, that I had always worked with women, and that is a core part of who I am.

Beth Beck, one of the founders of the Millhouse Foundation, often says, “As women, we are uniquely qualified to get things done.” This resonates with me on so many levels. We are creative beings and we can do the job without the tools, without the recipes, without the time. But so many of us, during the child rearing years, have given so much that we have lost a sense of who we are. Instead of Crisis, I like to call my change of career, or change of heart, as a mid-life realization. Self-actualization is when we have realized our talents, potentialities and what fulfills us. A self-actualized woman must not be held back. It’s my passion to encourage women to conquer their fears, insecurities, and external influences (non-supporters) that serve as roadblocks to reaching their highest potential.

During the pandemic we have all faced so many challenges in all areas of life. Can you tell us how, as a company, as an Entrepreneur, you have adapted to a new normal? Why do you feel that your business has thrived during the pandemic.
It’s so hard to really know where to start with this question? My business has many arms. I am a retailer with a physical location and online sales. When the pandemic first began, I quickly shifted my focus to online purchases with delivery. However, as much of my product is paint and paint products, after several months a supply chain issue severely affected the ability to get products to customers. So, the same as it has been for thousands of small businesses, my retail operations suffered greatly. I survived this by reducing my overhead and increasing my visibility on-line. When sales where low, I would pop online and do a quick Pop-Up Live shopping show, selling art and goods that were in current stock. The pandemic created an unpleasant in-person shopping experience for most. But women love to shop so these pop-up shops where wonderful. I found in heartwarming during one sale, because as we know, many of our finances where greatly affected and we were not able to buy. One of my customers, watched a sale and as a woman said, “I would love that but can’t afford it” My customer bought it for her. I love my community!!!!

My creative group is all about community. During the pandemic, I lowered the price of the subscription, and was super cognizant about creating a place that was pleasant, positive, and full of hope. Art is healing, it’s an escape at times, a place to relax and forget about the world around us. Every day I signed on and talked and created with the amazing women in my community, I felt good, I felt happy and hopeful and a sense of purpose and belonging. I can only hope that they felt/feel the same.

If I were to tell you that I am not creative at all, that I can’t even draw a stick figure… How would you respond?
Nope! It’s not true. To be human is to be creative. We are all creative and have the ability to learn new skills. Our creativity shines in so many ways. Some people just naturally have the ability to make an awesome meal with what is already in the pantry. Some create beautiful gardens, or fix things without all of the tools. Creativity is about thinking about something that isn’t and making it to be. We all have that ability. To be an artist, is about using that ability and learning skills to compliment it. You can paint pretty things… I can teach you!

How can we find you?
I just recently changed my name to reflect, more closely, who I am what my business is about. Cara’s Color Me Creative – Art, Community, Collaboration is the official! I can be found on Facebook and Instagram at Cara’s Color Me Creative as well as Pinterest.

If you would like to visit me in person, I have studio and retail space at The Millhouse Foundation in McKinney, Texas.

Email me at carascolormevintage@gmail.com or visit my website at
https://carascolormecreative.com/

Alright, so before we go, how can our readers connect with you to learn more and show support?
https://carascolormecreative.com/
https://www.facebook.com/carascolormecreative
https://www.instagram.com/carascolormecreative