Cara's work can be purchased through Instagram or in person at Lush Art Studio in Perry, GA. She currently has work available at Gallery 1083, 567 Center, And Macon Arts Alliance in Macon, Ga. If you are interested in a commission piece please contact me via Instagram or email and I will send a questionairre to see if you and I are a good fit for each other.
Bio: Cara Heard is a mixed media artist and the founder of Lush Art, located in Perry, Georgia.The studio is dedicated to helping people unleash their creativity and explore the world of painting.With a passion for art and small business that dates back to her childhood, Cara has honed her skills over the years through practice, experimentation, and strives to always continue learning.
She has worked as a professional artist for over a decade.Cara's style is characterized with her use of color and texture, and she draws her inspiration from nature, music, and the world and issues around her. Through Lush Art, Cara shares her knowledge and expertise with aspiring artists of all levels, offering in person classes and workshops that cover a range of painting techniques and styles.Her mission is to help people tap into their creativity and find joy and fulfillment through the transformative power of art. Cara has been accepted by Chateau Orquevaux in Orquevaux, France for a month long artist residency in April 2024 and been awarded The Denis Diderot Artist in Residency Grant to help offset part of the cost of the residency.The artist residency allows the artist time from their day to day obligations to reflect, research, and work on their art in an immersive, creative, and encouraging environment surrounded by artists of all styles from all over the world.
Art Statement
Cara Heard, a mixed media artist, weaves messages into her vibrant, textured creations. Utilizing texture, collage, mediums, mark making, and paint, she constructs pieces that aim to provoke thought and emotion. Each of Cara’s pieces carry a distinct narrative, challenging viewers to engage with the complexities of life. For commissioned works, Cara utilizes a personalized approach, integrating client input to craft tailored pieces that resonate on a deeply personal level. Inspired by the audacious spirit of the Fauvist movement, Cara embraces boldness and vibrancy in her work. Rejecting conformity, she embraces the power of color, movement, and texture to evoke change and spark conversation. Her art transcends decor; it serves as a catalyst for meaningful discourse, on the walls of galleries and homes and within the depths of the human soul.
Behind the art: No Place Like Home: Originally intended as a personal collection piece, this painting emerged during our early days in the Perry studio, becoming a poignant symbol of finding solace amid challenging times.It serves as a reminder that one can exist in contrasting emotional spaces simultaneously, experimenting a sense of displacement while discovering a profound connection to a place that fosters creativity.This piece encapsulates the idea that certain environments hold the power to nurture and inspire during life’s tumultuous moments. SOLD
Nun of your Business and We Don't Want to Jump Through your Hoops: I painted this when Roe vs Wade was overturned. Nun of your business (IYKYK, teens of the 90’s). Why religion and choice don’t belong in the same conversation. The vintage image out from a book inspired this painting. The nun is trying to get the little girl to perform to her liking. The tarot card was a balance, and represented what I think this decision means to women. AVAILABLE AT THE STUDIO
We Don’t Want To Jump Through Your Hoops. This is about men using women as a political tool for as long as there have been politics, LONG before we earned the right to vote or be a part of the process. SOLD
Midlife Chaos: I am 44, a wife, a mom, a daughter, a friend, a business owner, an artist, a connector, a lot of things all at once. What more is there to say. AVAILABLE
Keep Dreaming: It is about being a woman now, knowing what women before us had to do to get us where we are today and what we have to do for the next generation of women. AVAILABLE AT THE STUDIO
Shapes in the Clouds: Capturing the feeling of being young and imaginative and watching the clouds pass and seeing the shapes within them. AVAILABLE AT THE STUDIO
Temptation of Trust: Be careful who you trust. Not everyone will be honest and have the best intentions. The images included portray trust and temptation using vintage pages from Hansel and Gretel, putting your head in a lions mouth, a girl feeding a squirrel. This piece is about those moments in life giving into temptation, trusting intution, broken circles of trust. The areas of color represent boundaries after you have been disrespected. The tuberose flowers represent dangerous temptations. The daisies represent the blind trust in childhood games like "he loves me, he loves me not". AVAILABLE AT THE STUDIO
Karma: What goes around come around. AVAILABLE AT THE STUDIO