Meet Carol Iyer

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Carol Iyer a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Carol , so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
I finally overcame imposter syndrome after completing a mastery program through Milan Art Institute. I was self taught and had been just painting what I saw for twenty years. I felt I finally had the education and the skills needed to really call myself an artist. I also learned so much about myself and how I personally manage the creative process.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I create art almost every day. I paint with acrylics, watercolors, oils and soft pastels. I also spend about two days a week hand building with clay, glazing pottery and running a kiln. My style is whimsical— sort of a mix of realism, folk and whimsy. People who like my art often say it’s “happy” with a magical element to it. My inspiration comes from nature and I love to depict Florida birds with little grins, frogs, squirrels and other woodland critters and plants. I also enjoy painting the occasional mermaid. I try not to buy canvas (unless I have a commission). I paint on reclaimed wood and other surfaces that I pick up from thrift stores.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I think it comes down to practice, practice, practice. It takes time to see details like an artist and be able to translate them onto canvas or paper. Spend time just doodling, making marks and “coloring” with your paint of choice. This helps you get a better understanding of how different brushes work with and without water, adjusting the pressure, amount of paint, etc. Sit one day and practice mixing different colors that you find in a magazine. By just playing with the mediums, you will gain a better understanding. Don’t expect to create a masterpiece right off the bat!! Just like any sport, you have to practice in order to achieve success.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
When I feel overwhelmed, it’s usually self-driven. I have set boundaries with commissions so that I don’t get overwhelmed with the weight of deadlines. I sometimes feel like I need to be super productive, but if that starts to make me feel overwhelmed, I know it’s time for a break. I have to say to myself, “no one is going to care if you don’t produce anything today!” It’s time to work on something else, like update my website or organize my digital files.

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