This Missouri girl came to the art field very late in life. In order to battle grief from several losses, I picked up a camera and a pencil. I am totally self-taught in Art Photography, and have been fortunate to have been published in many Fashion Magazines, as well as Birds and Bloom Magazine.
After totally immersing myself in learning the techniques in photography, I found Infrared Photography and my Impressionism in Art Photography Series thru my random journey to learn.
Infrared Photography is created with a special camera that has been permanently altered to see different levels of natural infrared light. Surprisingly, the camera shows amazing detail, shadows, and highlights in spite of bright sunlight. It can also leave you with surreal emotion when using special processes with the colors.
Impressionism in Art Photography is a series that fell into my lap while participating in a challenge with others. The object was to move the camera while shooting your image. It allows you to show movement in a static image. Who knew that would send me down another wonderful photography road.
I have added Alternative Photographic Processes to my bingo card. Cyanotypes (circa 1848) use light sensitive chemicals, and create art using the UV light from the sun. Chlorophyll Printing is also a new challenge. I found this process from the 1800’s, by putting green leaves under a transparent image into the sun. An amazing chemical reaction, using the chlorophyll in the leaves, embeds an image into the leaves. Researching the work of a Vietnamese Artist from the 1980’s, I have created my own archival finishing process, and framing with mixed media.
Welcome to Carol World surfaced when I jumped into creative model shoots. Imagine amazing models, hair and makeup geniuses, killer wardrobes at venues you can only dream about. That’s when Carol walked in, a rookie, with a flash, a camera, and no map to navigate with. It was an amazing experience that allowed me to open my creative spaces, and just go for broke.
My Art Photography page here: http://www.welcometocarolworld.com
Along the way, I was immersed with performers, writers, and poets. It opened the raw spaces in me, but I was able to channel the grief in words and prose. I have been fortunate to have performed my work on the infamous stage at the Green Mill in Chicago. The Sunday night “Poetry Slam” was a landmark event in Chicago for over 25 years. My work was also selected as an inaugural contributor to INVERSE, the poetry archives with the Indiana State Library.
In 2016, while curating a local art show, I self-published my first book of prose work, Memories Evoked, as a companion piece for the Memories Evoked Art Show. In 2023, my first children’s book, Itty Bitty’s Journey, came to fruition. In 2026, Funeral For A Friend was published, an homage to the amazing masons that built incredible works of art in their Graveyard Monuments.
I completed a 10 year labor of love, assimilating the life work of my great-grandfather. JBR emigrated from Wales at age 14. He was prolific in thought, story, and faith. I believe I did it justice. Dear Children, Reminisces and Gleanings Of A Father was awarded a National BookFest Honorable Mention (2025) in the genre non-fiction/memoirs/portraits. My author page is here: http://www.carolestesauthor.com
My Art Photography and Mixed Media exhibits include shows in Chicago, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, and virtually worldwide. Since 1982, I have spent nearly all my adult life out on an old apple orchard in LaPorte, Indiana. Google “The Jury Is Out”, and you will find why I will always be known a the “Cardinal Lady”. It’s been saved, downloaded, memed, and shared over 100,000 times (that I can trace). I consider it my “gift to the Universe”.
