Featured Artist :: Watercolors, Fine Art & Prints by Carla Lovato

This week's featured artist is Watercolors, Fine Art & Prints by Carla Lovato!

Watercolors, Fine Art & Prints by Carla Lovato - Enjoy the luscious colors and imagery of the whimsical creatures that inhabit the fantasy paintings of Carla Lovato.

Senioritis: Name and location please.
Carla Lovato: Carla Lovato, Oregon Coast.
Senioritis: Hi Carla, thanks for sitting down with us!

Senioritis: Can you tell us a little about yourself please?
Carla Lovato: I am a self-taught artist working in sculpture, watercolor and oil. I was born a Navy brat, in Hawaii, traveling most of my childhood from one coastline to the other. Long trips through the night in an old station wagon, I truly thought the moon followed me. I had never known what it meant to be “from somewhere” and learned very early, that life is about constant change.

Art always gave me comfort - a place to be “from,” perhaps this is why many of my images are about change, growth and energy. I no longer move every year, I spend time as a teacher and graphic designer. One day after many years of day-dreaming about this old derelict building, my husband and I purchased it. We fixed it up ourselves, paying as we went for all of the construction materials. We now live and work in the same building, doing what we love; creating art in a small coastal community. I recently found Etsy and it's a great way to get your artwork seen by a global community.
Senioritis: That's very interesting that you describe art as providing you with a place to be from. We have spoken to, and read about, many people who do a good amount of traveling and many have expressed similar feelings. No matter which coast or continent you may be on a blank canvas and a new sketchbook will always look the same. Art can provide consistency no matter where life may take you.

Congrats to you and your husband on breathing new life into a run-down building and doing it all on your own, that's awesome!

Senioritis: Marlon Brando: Streetcar Named Desire or the Godfather?
Carla Lovato: Streetcar Named Desire, I always depended on the kindness of others...



Senioritis: Which words would best describe your style Carla?
Carla Lovato: Colorful, Whimsical, Joyful and at times Surreal.

Senioritis: What's the best business tip you have ever received and who gave it to you?
Carla Lovato: An older gentleman who worked for SCORE (an organization that offers free help, guidance, and mentorship for small businesses) once told me:

*Be carful of what you spend on advertising - aim it at the right audience for what you sell
*Watch out for the hidden costs of doing business - insurance, fees, equipment, interest, shipping, re-stocking, supplies and utilities
I thought how can these relate to me an artist? Trust me they do.
Senioritis: SCORE is an excellent resource and those are some great tips. We think that with the advent of tools like twitter, facebook, and google adwords it has become easier for small businesses to reach their target audience on a global level; the trick still remains figuring out who that audience is ;)



Senioritis: Carla, what's your favorite sport to either watch or play?
Carla Lovato: Sport. . . hum . . . can I say Fiddle playing? Yes I know that is not a sport, but if you consider some fast fiddle licks, and dodging drunken customers while playing, it does occasionally appear to be like a sport.
Senioritis: Hmm, we were skeptical at first but if it involves dodging drunks we'll count it, not to mention the fact that it takes some athleticism to do anything this quickly.

Senioritis: Chevy Chase: Fletch or Three Amigos
Carla Lovato: Hum, how about Saturday Night Live? I loved his rendition of the clumsy president. If I had to pick one of these, it would probably be Three Amigos.

Senioritis: Carla, do you have a favorite quote?
Carla Lovato: Because our building was hit by a freak tornado while we were under construction my favorite quote is “Toto, I don’t think we are in Kansas anymore” said by Dorothy Gale in The Wizard of OZ.
Senioritis: Oh wow, there was some pretty crazy weather here in NY last week that we haven't seen in a while. Hopefully everything was ok and you didn't notice any witch's feet sticking out from under the building ;)



Senioritis: If you could jump in the DeLorean and go back in time; what’s one thing you would do differently in your business Carla?
Carla Lovato: Back in time...High School: I would hang out and work harder in math class instead of drawing cartoons on the black board for that "pity C” from the teacher. I sure could use the math now for doing taxes and bookkeeping. I lived in the art department.

Senioritis: If the $100 bill needed a redesign, who would you put on it?
Carla Lovato: I was rather fond of “Bill the Cat” from Bloom county. I think he would be fabulous, that eternal look of suprise, being stoned or run over by a car. It’s how I feel at times when I see one of those bills, especially in this economy.
Senioritis: We think Bill the Cat would work well on the $100!

Senioritis: Where can we find you on the web Carla?
Carla Lovato: My Etsy shop, and on twitter.



Senioritis: James Bond: Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan, or Daniel Craig?
Carla Lovato: No doubt on this one Sean Connery! Does that date me?
Senioritis: Nope, apparently the love of Mr. Connery transcends all ages!

Senioritis: Any shoutouts Carla?
Carla Lovato: I love our area here in Lincoln City Oregon! It is a great place to live and vacation: Taft Beach, Oregoncoast.org and my favorite Tavern for playing fiddle: Snug harbor Bar and Grill.

Thanks for sitting down with us and letting us know more about the person behind all of your great work. If you find yourself out on the Oregon Coast pay Carla a visit at the Once in a Blue Moon gallery where you'll find a great collection of whimsical, unique gifts & fine art!