Today we’d like to introduce you to Carla Paschal.
Hi Carla, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always loved Art. Even from a small child. I can remember myself always sketching, painting, or creating. I senior year of high school, I was offered a full scholarship to what was once called the North Carolina School of the arts but opted not to go. I ended up getting a degree in early childhood education with a master’s in mental health counseling. I worked with homeless disabled, and schizophrenic adults for many years but continued my art on the side. I dreamed of opening my own art studio one day. Art can be a therapeutic release for the stressful times that we live in. I wanted to be able to encourage others to follow their inner artist. When my husband and I moved into the area, my husband encouraged me to follow my dream. In 2017, Wild Child Art Studio was opened. I started offering children’s classes, mommy and me, and preschool art. In 2019, I incorporated a variety of adult classes from painting to working with epoxy as well as working closely with another local artist, Jen Cole, to instruct pottery classes. My studio made it through all the shutdowns and continued to flourish due to the overwhelming support of & enrollment in classes from those in the Hampstead and Wilmington area. I am so grateful for all those who attend my studio. In 2021, my wonderful, loving husband, who I had known since I was 14 years old, passed away… I just didn’t know if I was going to be able to make it and keep the studio open. He was my inspiration and cheerleader. Once again, all of those participants, parents, and children, who had all attended classes at my studio, embraced me in my time of need. I wanted to give Art up, and the community around me encouraged me to stand fast. So here I am in 2023, I travel quite a bit participating in fine art shows, local markets, and continue to run Wild Child Art studio. With Jen working with me, we are the dynamic duo, continuing to do classes, summer camps, resin classes, Clay classes & walk-in paint-your-own pottery studio.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
2020 was definitely a struggle. When Covid came along, everything was shut down; I still needed to make ends meet. I would buy quarter-inch plywood. I would Drawing designs and cut them out with my jigsaw. I would deliver these wooden cutout designs with paint and paint brushes to families around the Hampstead area to make ends meet. When my husband passed away in 2021, I believe that was my greatest struggle. I couldn’t imagine doing what I do without him. Art was definitely an emotional release for me during this difficult time. It was also during this time that I renewed my faith in God and became more grateful for the things I have in my life.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a mixed-media artist. I use a variety of glass and acrylics on canvas. I am proud of the artistic progression in my artwork. I look back 15+ years from selling hand-painted signs at the flea market to creating large, fine art pieces, selling them at trade shows, businesses, and online. Every piece I make is an original. I put my heart and soul into every piece, with an underlying meaning behind each piece. My pieces represent my emotional state of being at the moment that I’m doing them.
What matters most to you? Why?
I want everyone to understand that anyone can be an artist. Art is in the eye of the beholder. When someone takes my class, I encourage them to think outside of the box and look within to create their art piece. Every individual is amazing. There’s never a wrong way to do art. Every person should be able to express themselves artistically in a judgment, free zone and feel beautiful while doing it.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.wildchildartstudio.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/original_wildchild
- Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/thewildchildartstudio
