Today we’d like to introduce you to Caroline Porter.
Hi Caroline, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’m primarily a self taught artist from the Midwest. I formerly worked in medical research as a Microbiologist, but art has always been a huge part of my life. After having my daughter 5 years ago, I decided to quit my career in science to be a stay at home mom and turn my art hobby into a profession. It was the best decision I’ve ever made!
In 2023, I was diagnosed with various spinal and spinal cord diseases. This has greatly impacted my artwork and outlook on life. I am incredibly grateful for all the support and love received from family and friends. In an odd way, my disability has pushed my art career even more.
The Midwest is also another huge influence on my artwork. I grew up primarily in Minnesota, but have lived all around the Midwest. A couple of years ago, my family and I moved back to Minnesota from Omaha, Nebraska. We found our little slice of heaven in Fairmont, Minnesota.
I mostly work with watercolor and ink, watercolors, oil pastels. and acrylic mediums. I love creating floral and/or botanical works, animal and building portraits, and city skylines. I also love doing large pieces such as murals. Lastly, I offer a variety of art classes and travel around Minnesota teaching at a Art Centers and Community Education Departments.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Getting started was hard in the beginning. It took years to network with teaching venues, figuring out the best art festivals, how to price my artwork appropriately, marketing strategies, etc. I joke that I’m a business woman first, artist second – but it’s the truth.
Another set back I regularly deal with is my health. Unfortunately, I am considered disabled from various degenerative spinal/spinal cord diseases (i.e. inoperable benign spinal cord tumor, spinal stenosis, spinal cord flattening, bone spurs, etc.). I am incredibly thankful for how high functioning I still am, however, it greatly limits my work and my life as a whole. I need help from my husband, family members or friends to participate in Vendor Shows, transporting large amounts of artwork to or from galleries, etc. I would not be able to do what I do without them.
On a positive note, art has been a huge help in pain management. It greatly helps take my mind off things and helps me process my feelings towards the situation.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in watercolors and watercolor and ink. I am most proud of the community work I do in rural areas. I often work with small town libraries or obtain my own grant funding to provide free art classes to the community. I also regularly organize and lead fundraisers to support local nonprofits.
What sets me apart from other teaching artists, is the volume of venues I work with. Most teaching artists work with one or two Art Centers in their area. I regularly rotate between 20+ venues from across Southern MN, the Metro area of the Twin Cities, Northern Iowa, and Eastern South Dakota. I have never met another teaching artist that covers such a large region.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Being a primarily self taught artist, free online tutorials, textbooks from the library, low cost Community Ed. classes, art related social media groups have all been huge for advancing my artistic career and style. The amount of grants available to Minnesota residents and disabled artists has also greatly impacted my career as an artist.
Pricing:
- Pricing for private art workshops can vary based on location. For local (to Fairmont, MN) private events, group discounts start at just 5 people. The average cost per person for private events can range from $25 – $45 per person depending on travel expenses and number of attendees. Interested parties can email me at [email protected] for my brochure and more details.
- Commission pricing is usually around $4 per sq. inch (not including framing) and can change based on level of detail. I specialize in pet and house portraits.
- Mural pricing is usually around $40 per sq. foot. This can change based on level of detail, travel, etc.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://caroline-porter-art.square.site/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolineporterart
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarolineEPorter/
- Other: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083616061952
