Today we’d like to introduce you to Carla Paschal- Hunt.
Hi Carla, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I think I knew I was an artist before I even knew what being an artist meant. From a very young age, I was always drawn to creating. In fact, one of my favorite stories from childhood is that when I was in first grade, I would actually sleep underneath the art easel in my classroom. I was that comfortable surrounded by art.
That passion stayed with me as I grew older. I was fortunate enough to be accepted into the North Carolina School of the Arts, but ultimately chose a different path. I went on to raise my family and build a career, but I never stopped creating. Art was always there. It was part of who I was, even when it wasn’t my full-time profession.
Eventually, I started participating in art shows, and I absolutely loved them. I loved meeting people, sharing what I created, and seeing the reactions that art could bring out in someone. At the time, I was working a full-time job and raising my family, so art was something I was doing because I genuinely loved it. I didn’t necessarily know where it would take me—I just knew I couldn’t imagine my life without it.
In 2016, my husband encouraged me to take a leap and follow the dream I had carried with me for so many years: opening my own art studio.
That was a huge step for me. I was still working a regular job with the Pender County Sheriff’s Department while beginning to teach art classes. There were certainly moments when I wondered if I was crazy for trying to build something new while continuing to work and manage everything else life brings. But little by little, the studio grew.
And now, ten years later, I can honestly say I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
What has become most meaningful to me isn’t simply creating my own artwork. It’s creating an environment where other people can discover the artist inside themselves.
I love watching someone walk into my studio saying, “I’m not crafty,” and then watching their confidence grow as they create something they are proud of. There is something incredibly special about seeing someone’s face light up when they step back and look at what they have made with their own hands.
That’s what I want my studio to be—a place where people feel comfortable being creative, trying something new, and maybe even surprising themselves. Art doesn’t have to be perfect. It doesn’t have to be something you went to school to learn. Sometimes it’s simply about giving yourself permission to create.
Being part of the community has also become a huge part of what I do. I love connecting with people through art, creating experiences for them, and watching the studio become a place where people gather, laugh, learn, and make memories together. I feel incredibly fortunate that something that began as a little girl’s love of an art easel has grown into a way for me to bring creativity into other people’s lives.
After all these years, I still feel that same little girl inside me—the one who wanted to sleep underneath the art easel.
The difference is that now I’ve built a place where she can invite everyone else in.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, it definitely hasn’t always been a smooth road. Like anything worth building, there have been challenges, unexpected turns, and plenty of moments when I’ve had to figure things out as I went.
But I think the difference for me is that I’ve always genuinely loved what I do. Even when things have been difficult, I’ve never questioned whether this is where I belong.
There are always going to be challenges when you’re running a small business and putting your heart into something you’ve built yourself. But I try to focus on the bigger picture. I get to spend my days creating, teaching, connecting with people, and watching others discover how much they can do creatively.
For me, that’s what makes it all worthwhile. The difficult days are part of the journey, but they don’t define it.
I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to say that after all these years, I still wake up excited about what I’m doing. I love my studio, I love my community, and most of all, I love seeing what happens when people give themselves permission to be creative.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My personal specialty is painting, especially heavy-body acrylics and textured work. I love using a palette knife, building layers and dimension, and letting my imagination take over.
At my studio, I teach a variety of creative classes, including painting, resin, stained glass, and mosaics. I love staying current with new trends and giving people the opportunity to explore different mediums in a fun, welcoming environment.
While I personally specialize in painting, what I really love is helping people discover the joy of creating something with their own hands. I think what separates me is that I don’t just want to create art—I want to create an experience. I want people to walk into my studio feeling comfortable, inspired, and excited to try something new.
I’m passionate about my own artwork, especially painting and texture, but I’m equally passionate about helping other people discover their creativity. I love seeing someone who says, “I’m not an artist,” leave with something they created themselves and a huge smile on their face.
For me, it’s about more than the finished piece. It’s about the confidence, connection, and joy that happen along the way. That’s what makes what I do so meaningful to me.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I grew up in Gastonia, North Carolina, with my mom and dad. I was an only child and lived in the same house, in the same neighborhood, until I graduated from high school.
My parents were incredibly supportive of my eccentric little artistic discoveries. I made art out of just about anything I could get my hands on, and they would simply smile and let me create. They never tried to steer me away from my imagination—they encouraged it.
I only had a couple of close friends, so I spent a lot of time creating on my own. But I was also extremely outgoing and energetic. My brain never seemed to shut off, and I was constantly talking, thinking, imagining, and coming up with my next idea.
Looking back, I think that little girl was already becoming the artist I am today. I just didn’t know it yet.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.wildchildstudioartistco.com
- Instagram: @original_wildchild
- Facebook: @wildchildstudioartistco
- Yelp: Wildchildstudioartistco
