Interview
Caren Akers
Caren grew up in a family surrounded by art, as her mother is a notable artist and her father worked alongside her mother. Growing up, Caren went to many art shows and openings featuring her mother – so at a young age, her art appreciation began. Although, this was not the career path that she took. Caren graduated with a Business Administration degree and pursued a career in human resources. After many years, she took her leave from the corporate world and picked up a paint brush.
From the first brush stroke, Caren’s paintings have evolved and transitioned into what she calls ‘Sculpted Paintings’. The texture is sculpted onto the canvas prior to any paint being applied. She states that this type of painting has been a freeing experience for her.
The texture applied is done so with the use of various tools. Once the texture has dried, Caren observes the canvas, looks at the patterns, and based on the feeling she receives from the design, the color is added. This is the ‘zen’ moment. The freeing experience found in the movement of the paintbrush on the canvas, layering colors of paint within the texture and watching what evolves. Caren has been told that these paintings are experienced not only by the eye, but they draw you in to be experienced by touch.
What Caren believes about her artwork, is that art as beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Many of her pieces can be hung either landscape or portrait, so whichever way you decide to hang the artwork to view it, you are correct. That is the beauty of abstract painting.
Caren’s work can be found in private and corporate collections around the US. She has been recognized in the Top 60 Master’s of Contemporary Art, 2019 and 2020 (Art Tour International); Artist of the Future Award, 2020 (Contemporary Art Curator Magazine). She is featured in: 2021 and (2022 yet to be published) Artfolio Annual: A Curated Collection of the World’s Most Exciting Artists, Nature: Adult Coloring Book 2021, New Perspectives Art Book 2020, and Art Tour International Magazine 2019 and 2020 - various issues, Artistonish - July 2021.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“My background in art appreciation started at a young age. I grew up watching my mother paint, going to her art shows and exhibitions. I was fortunate to be able to attend art shows throughout my young life, and that gave me an appreciation of what type of art I am drawn to, although it changed as I grew up.
When I was in high school, I chose to study photography and then when I went to college, I went into business. It wasn’t until many years in the business world, that I needed to step back, and decided to pick up a paint brush. Utilizing my memories and being the consummate rebel that I am, I started to paint my way and discover this newly found freedom and joy in creation.”
What inspires you?
“Almost anything can be inspirational to me! Living and growing up in South Florida, I am very fortunate to have the beauty that is ever present here. But that is not only where my inspirations come from. I can receive inspiration from music, sounds, reflections, my travels – basically anything can be inspirational and leave a thought in my mind which at some point develops into a painting.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“I really do not have a theme that I pursue. My joy in painting abstract work is paying attention to how others respond to my work. What their perception is, what they see. I guess my underlying message is as I typically say, ‘art is in the eye of the beholder’.”
“Each person has his/her own viewpoint on art, and that is correct, as is the artist in the creation of the piece. What is important is that it brings me joy in creating each piece – if it brings the viewer joy, fantastic, if not, that's okay too.”
How would you describe your work?
“I have a few different collections that I add to when the need arises. My ‘Subliminal’ collection consists of words that are painted over and over again. You really have to study the painting to see what I am saying. I have a collection that is called ‘Numbered’. This work was created because a number was stuck in my head, so that number is the number of brush strokes for each small segment of the painting. My ‘Conversation’ collection was conversations or sounds in my head and how they came to be on the canvas.
My most current work, which I am really enjoying, is sculpted abstract paintings. I have several collections in this format: ‘Bold and Beautiful’ – strong, vibrant colors, with many of these being abstract floral paintings; ‘De Lines’ – this collection is based on heavily textured lines that are layered with many brush strokes of colors; ‘Envision’ – this collection is fun as everyone sees and experiences something different, for example, turn the painting and see something new. Hearing what others see in these pieces gives me ideas to create something new. And finally ‘Sculpted Abstracts’ – abstracts that do not fit into the other collections but were the initial inspiration of starting this style of painting.
My sculpted paintings, I have been told, draw you in not only with your eyes, but also with touch. When I first started painting, I hated people touching the paintings. Now I get joy as people ask if they can touch the piece.”
Which artists influence you most?
“The world is filled with many truly talented artists, and it is difficult to say who influences me, as I can look at many artists and see their use of color palettes and gain inspiration. If you ask me who my favorite artist is, of course I would say my mother, Betty Neubauer, as she was first and foremost in introducing me to the art world.
The paintings that I saw at MOMA which dropped me to my knees were from Jackson Pollock. Something about his work that I can’t explain just speaks to me, it resonates through me as I speak of his work. Another artist who I find very intriguing is Basquiat, with the way his work draws me in. Of course there are also many of the masters I could mention: Van Gogh, Monet, Picasso, etc.”
“My creative process starts with the idea that I need to express. I place designs with an acrylic medium on my canvas with various tools: trowels, spatulas and knives, to achieve the texture that I want to paint on. This is allowed to dry. Then I stare at the canvas until I decide which color or colors I want to take the painting in.”
What is your creative process like?
“I have been asked how do I know if I have made a mistake with my color selection, and my response has been that only the artist knows if a mistake is made, and if you don’t like it either continue or paint it until you like it or paint it white and start over again. I constantly turn the painting as I paint. When asked how I know when my painting is finished, I wish I had an answer to that. It may be finished as it is displayed at that time and then I can look at it and say now I need to add x or y, and a new painting is born. So the painting may never be finished until it is either sold or destroyed or repurposed. When I repurpose paintings, I make them into something new – a one of a kind bag or purse. Something useful versus sending to a landfill.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“Art for me should bring some type of emotion to whoever is viewing it. I believe that for every piece of art that is created, there is a person for whom that piece is intended for. It is the artist connecting their emotion, being, and belief to others.
My journey in art is more reserved and I wish to bring calm, joy and my interpretation of beauty. Others pursue a different path of causes or politics, and that is their own right. Art is an individual right and there is no right or wrong in what one person perceives or doesn’t perceive as art, each person’s perception is correct.”
Website: www.caren-akers.com
Instagram: @carenakers
