Today we’d like to introduce you to Carla Crane Seven.
Hi Carla, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
The running joke, is that I’ve been artsy-fartsy out the womb. My parents were intentional in keeping my mind stimulated through extracurriculars, ranging from sports and chorus to craft circles and summer reading programs.
Homeschooling with my mom was also a rewarding experience. Our quality time together poured into my imagination, creating an educational environment that reaffirmed my playful spirit. I am grateful for such formative memories that shaped how I move through the world and express who I am today.
Fast forward to 2020, this collective standstill marked the year of my awakening; a poignant time of self-discovery and the beginning of my creative practice. The start of this new decade became the catalyst for an inward pilgrimage.
Fully immersed in this solitude on steroids, I was finally able to hear my soul speaking…and she had a lot to say! Most of my internal dialogue was filled with questions about existence and what it means to be liberated.
Week by week, I decided to honor those nudges; the subtle push towards picking up a paintbrush and sharing what I created online. Unattached to an outcome, I committed to consistency and receptivity to the mysterious. I gained momentum watching my body of work grow; a visual diary developed in real time.
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?
Just like everything else in life, this journey has had its ebbs & flows…but that’s how you develop rhythm. Most of the speedbumps were related to character development, such as coming out of shyness, stepping away from the comfort zone, and allowing myself to be seen. Overcoming timidity was a full-time job, but once I permitted myself and saw others show up in their fullness, I stepped into an unexpected freedom.
Deliberately putting my artwork out in the world has guided me in releasing resistance towards being misunderstood. Everyone won’t resonate with or understand what I create. This very lesson of acceptance continues to grow my capacity to hold space for indifference.
With practice came progress, and that’s exactly how I developed an unwavering trust and appreciation in my innermost voice.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
In these creative streets, I am known as Crane Seven; an Interdisciplinary Creatress who collaborates with various artistic mediums as vehicles of self-cultivation (e.g., acrylic, writing, spray paint, photography).
Flavored with introspection and mysticism, the abstract pieces are derived from my intrigue of the unseen world, such as spirit and the flow of energy (e.g., Auric Progressions collection). A recognizable signature of mine is the Mud Collection, a series of high contrast, silhouette beings telling the tale of my inner world. Pieces like Synergy, Peel(ing) Back The Layers, and Letters to The Giver of All Things capture the headspace I was in during significant seasons of life.
I also work as a user experience strategist, specializing in the optimization of customer to business interactions through synthesized research and creative problem-solving. My work as a design thinker fulfills the methodical side of myself, who enjoys connecting the dots and innovation.
What excites me most is applying my design skills towards the collective enhancement of quality of life, particularly in the realm of women-centric healthcare. As someone who deeply loves the women in their life, my actions are an effort to keep them around as long as possible.
Reflecting upon these recent years, I am most proud of my dedication to self-development and a creative practice. Navigating the growing pains from a place of empowerment while remaining open-hearted throughout the process became instrumental stepping stones of an emotionally resilient foundation.
I take pride in my intentionality and thoughtfulness, which also sets me apart. Whether it’s in how I show up for myself or through the encouragement extended to others, I treat every day like a gift and an opportunity to be a light.
Through ambition and the blessings of God, I have received notable opportunities, such as the commission for an outdoor, community mural at Marion Diehl recreation center, being voted best multidisciplinary artist by Queen City Nerve (2025), and my participation in ArtPop’s annual cities program (2025).
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
– The smell of the forest after it rains
– Hearing birdsong while basking in the sun
– The laugher of my family
– A delicious cup of matcha
– Feeling supported by loved ones
– Completing a creative project
– The blossoming of Spring flowers
Each of these engages my senses one way or another and are timeless moments that remind me of the joy of existence. It’s always the simplest things that are felt and cherished the deepest. Each evokes happiness in unique ways, but the core theme is that they soften my heart and call me back to presence. It is here, fully present, where the delicacies of life can be experienced at their full intent.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.craneseven.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crane.seven
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carla-nathan/
