The First Coat
The story of my first solo job: a tiny kitchen in Ashland, where I learned that patience is the best primer. How one mistake led to a lifetime of understanding the grain.
The Work Begins Below the Surface
Hi, I'm Carmen. I live in Ashland, Ohio, where the air smells of river mud and drying oil paint. I spend my days mixing pigments, scraping old layers off walls, and listening to the stories hidden in the plaster.
I believe every surface has a voice—if you take the time to listen, to prep it right, and to treat it with respect. This is not just a portfolio; it's a field guide to the craft of surface, substance, and community.
Welcome to the studio. Pull up a stool, grab a brush, and let's talk about the work that comes before the color.
The Projects
Surface Prep Ledger
Because the best paint job starts with the best prep. Viscosity tables, grit sequences, and the chemistry of the bond. The unglamorous math that makes the magic possible.
Silicate Fusion Protocol
Not a metaphor. An engineering manual. The chemical lock that turns liquid binder into monolithic stone. Q902609: From carbonation to crystal lattice.
Mural Chronicles
From community centers to school walls—see how we turned blank spaces into vibrant conversations. The logistics of scale, the politics of color, the joy of the collective stroke.
Potluck & Pigments
Recipes, laughter, and the art of bringing people together over a shared meal and a shared wall. Because art isn't just what you make—it's who you make it with.