Tag Archives: art

Zilker Park

After participating in the Art04 Studio Tour, I was delighted to have a painting commissioned by South Austin Oral Surgery. They asked me to capture a view of Zilker Park and the Austin Skyline from an overlook at the botanical garden.

After getting a good photo, I began tracing the outlines over and over until I was happy with them.

After transferring the outlines to canvas using carbon paper, I filled it all in with vibrant acrylic paint.

Zilker Park, acrylic on canvas, 12″x12″

The final painting hangs at South Austin Oral Surgery, where it will be joined by works from other local artists. I’ve also made art prints available, for everyone who knows how special this park is.

I feel so lucky to be part of this supportive and creative community!

HOLIDAY MARKETS & MORE
Wall of colorful art prints and paintings.
Blue Genie Art Bazaar

The Blue Genie Art Bazaar is a favorite holiday tradition, with over 200 local makers under one roof. Keep an eye on their social media pages, they keep adding fun events and perks (like free donuts on Tuesday mornings).
November 14 – December 24, 2025
Open daily, 10am-10pm (closing at 6pm on Christmas Eve)
6100 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX
Shop online year-round

Original paintings of canyons, armadillo, and roadrunner, hanging over art prints.
Merry Makers Market at Contracommon

The Merry Makers Market at Contracommon features work from 17 local makers. You can find a variety of mediums including: paintings, prints, collages, sculptures, housewares, pins, apparel, ornaments, jewelry, and stained glass. Conveniently located in the Hill Country Galleria, a shopping destination with an ice skating rink and fun events to celebrate the season.
November 28th – January 2, 2026
Open Thurs-Sun, 12-6pm (open til 9 on Black Friday)
Holiday party and Mario Kart Tournament: Saturday, Dec 13th, 6-11pm
12912 Hill Country Blvd Suite #F-140 Bee Cave, TX

Paintings and shelves with small sculptures hanging on gallery wall.
Eye Of The Dog Art Center

As part of the “Smaller Than A Bread Box” art show, you can find my painting of Deep Eddy Pool hanging at the Eye Of The Dog Art Center in San Marcos. The exhibit includes work from 61 local artists, across multiple mediums. I was blown away by the quality and cuteness of the works, and the size makes them very gift-able. Check out the art and do some shopping on their website.
Smaller Than A Bread Box: A Tiny Works Community Exhibit
Dogseye Gallery, Eye Of The Dog Art Center
November 21 – December 21, 2025
405 Valley View West Rd, San Marcos, TX

Cara sitting at table covered in colorful art prints.

Somehow, amidst all the holiday planning, I made time to pop-up at Art For The People Gallery during the annual Austin Studio Tour. I had a relaxing weekend of chatting with friends and art lovers, while selling prints and bandanas from my little table.

Again, I have to say how much this community means to me and how supported I feel by it. Austin is a great place to be an artist. Thank you to everyone who makes this city feel like home!

Sonoran Sunset

All my life I have dreamed of saguaros. I’ve been captivated by the mystery they seem to embody: how can a desert plant grow so tall, live so long, and have such delicate flowers? The seemingly inherent contrasts have inspired me since I was a child.

It wasn’t until recently that I experienced a sunset in Saguaro National Park. The electric neon colors of the sky and surrounding hills amazed me, and I hope to have captured even a fraction of that in my painting Sonoran Sunset.

Sonoran Sunset, acrylic on canvas, 18″x36″, framed, available
Detail showing brushstrokes.

You can see this painting at Zilker brewery, as part of our Lizard Juice seasonal beer and art collaboration (featuring paintings, prints, bandanas, and a fruited kettle sour beer with my art on the can), only at the Zilker taproom, thru August 28th.

Join us on the final day of the show as we celebrate with an art market!

A percentage of taproom sales will be donated to Austin Wildlife Rescue to help rehabilitate injured native critters – come meet their animal ambassador, a Texas tortoise!

Shop locally-handcrafted goods by:

  • & The Minotaur – handmade jewelry
  • Apoth & Stitch – unique, handmade crocheted treasures
  • Bonsai Bar – a hands-on experience in bonsai creation and care
  • Chase Gordon – illustrations and 3D-printed oddities
  • Chris Long Ceramics – colorful ceramic pottery
  • JFR Glass – hand-blown glass art and drinkware
  • Kyle Saldaña – illustrations, paintings, and more
  • …and myself, of course! I’ll be there with a variety of art prints, Texas Critters bandanas, framed canvas prints, and paintings

Enjoy craft beer, cocktails, wine, and NA beverages by Zilker, Pan-Asian fried chicken by Spicy Boys, and smash burgers by Patty Palace, available all night.

Lizard Juice closing party, fundraiser, and art market: Thursday, August 28, 2025, 6-9pm, 1701 E 6th St, Austin, TX

Hope to see you there!

Salt Creek Beach

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I took a road trip out west and stopped in Orange County to see my family. In a few days we’d visited several beaches, but an afternoon at Salt Creek Beach stuck out in my mind as the quintessential California beach, with it’s surfers, spectacular cliffs, and beach-side cafe serving up burritos.

I walked to the end of the beach to watch the surfers and was surprised to find little blooming succulents covering the rocks.

I later learned that the plants aren’t native, but I found them so charming I decided to include them in a painting anyway.

Salt Creek Beach, acrylic on canvas, 18″x36″

You can see the original painting hanging at the Zilker Brewing Co taproom, as part of our Lizard Juice summer art show and beer release.

Lizard Juice features several new paintings, canvas prints, my Texas Critters bandanas, and their seasonal beer (a fruited kettle sour with plum, cherry, and prickly pear cactus juice), available only at the Zilker taproom at 1701 E 6th St, Austin, TX

Thanks to everyone who came out to the opening reception – your support means the world to me!

Lizard Juice

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It’s summer and the lizards are out in Austin – they’re running around, climbing, and doing push-ups in a frenzy of reptilian exuberance. It’s a fitting time to announce a collaboration that’s been brewing between me and Zilker beer: a fruited kettle sour we’re calling Lizard Juice!

This seasonal beer features my artwork on the 16oz cans and is available only at Zilker Brewing Co. I’m also unveiling new paintings and a new bandana design, on exhibition in the taproom through August (while supplies last).

Lizard Juice, acrylic on canvas, 18″x36″
Texas Critters Bandana

To celebrate, we’re throwing a party on Thursday, July 10th with live music by “one man funk band” Henry Invisible and artisanal tie dye by Zencraft Arts – Join us!

Lizard Juice – Art Show and Beer Release Party
Thursday, July 10, 2025, 6-9pm
Zilker Brewing Co.
1701 E. 6th Street, Austin, TX 78702
Free and open to the public.

Detail showing brushstrokes and that lizard tongue!

I would like to thank some of the lizards that helped make this happen:

A friend posted this photo on Facebook and I immediately knew I had to use it for my painting!
This gorgeous Tegu lizard wandered into my backyard. After about three hours, we finally had it captured, in our bathtub, and had located the very-grateful owner.
I was asked to pet-sit for my neighbors, and learned how to feed this lovely lizard (one small salad every day plus 10-20 crickets – yum!)
While pet-sitting, I spotted my favorite print by Austin artist Corey Carbo.

ALSO SHOWING

You can see both my paintings of Big Bend’s Santa Elena Canyon at Art For The People Gallery, as part of their Captivating Colors group show.

Inside Santa Elena Canyon, acrylic on canvas, 24″x36″
Santa Elena Canyon, acrylic on canvas, 24″x36″

I recommend going on a second Saturday if you can, to visit more than a hundred open art studios next door at Art Hub ATX.

Captivating Colors is on exhibit until August 15th.

Happy art viewing and happy Independence Day!
Enjoy this time to relax and let your inner lizard loose!

Deep Eddy

An Austin gem and the oldest swimming pool in Texas, Deep Eddy is filled with spring-fed water that flows up along the banks of the Colorado River.

I went on a weekday afternoon to relax by the water and was delighted when a man sat down nearby and began playing his guitar. Of course, I had to capture this moment through art.

Deep Eddy, acrylic on wood panel, 12″x12″

You can see the painting in person at the Blue Genie May Market, open on weekends through Memorial Day.

It’s already feeling like summer in Austin and I’m ready to get out on the water!

CATCHING UP

The Art04 Studio Tour was a success – we enjoyed perfect weather, a steady stream of art-lovers, and so many great artists making and showing their work.

I was busy chatting with visitors and working on my next painting, but I was able to get a few photos of the studio I was showing in.

It was a treat to get to show my paintings next door to Jared’s beautiful glass work at the new JFR Glass studio space in Thornton Road Studios – what a friendly and talented community!

Thanks to everyone who came out and made it such a fun weekend – I’m looking forward to next year’s Art04 Studio Tour.

COMING UP

I’m busy preparing for a solo exhibition at Zilker Brewing Co.’s taproom. We’re going with a summer theme – expect lots of cactus art and a specialty fruited sour beer to match.

Mark your calendar and join us for the opening reception on Thursday, July 10th, from 6-9pm.

THINGS I’M ENJOYING

Discovering other artists’ interpretation of Barton Springs Pool:

Fun, very detailed illustration by Regone Studios. Click here to see the full image on their website.
Beautiful sticker design by Jelly Press Co. Click here to shop the sticker and see other Texas-inspired art.
The painting I recently completed of Barton Springs Pool, which you can read about in my last blog post.

It’s so fun to see how artists focus on different aspects of the same place, to see what we chose to include and exclude, and how using different mediums changes the feel of the art.

I’m still on the lookout for more Barton Springs inspired art, so if you find something, please send it my way.

Thank you for reading!

Barton Springs

More than a pool, it is a way of life.

Barton Springs Pool is filled by natural spring water and is home to an endangered blind salamander. The grass-covered lawn and shade of pecan trees make it a wonderful slice of nature amid downtown Austin’s ever-climbing skyscrapers.

On Sundays you can find free yoga and a drum circle. On the full moon you can hear crowds strumming guitars and howling. It’s a community in the heart of the city.

After turning toward my city and painting the iconic train bridge, it was only fitting that I capture the magic of Barton Springs Pool. So, I set out on bicycle to photograph the pool mid-summer.

A pool surrounded by trees, with tall buildings in the background.

To simplify the scene, I opted to omit many of the swimmers.

A line drawing of the pool.

The final painting:

The pool scene as a painting.

Detail showing the bright colors and simplified forms:

Working on this painting was a blast and really got me in a summer state of mind.

COMING UP

You can see the Barton Springs and Austin paintings in person at the Blue Genie Art Bazaar during their May Market, where they will be available for purchase.

Flyer for Blue Genie's May Market.

And, for one weekend only, you can see my Big Bend inspired paintings at a pop-up exhibition in South Austin. The surrounding art studios will be open to the public as part of the Art04 Studio Tour, with lots to explore!

Saturday & Sunday, May 3 & 4, 11am-5pm
2311 Thornton Road, Austin, TX 78704
Free and Open To The Public

Flyer for Art04 Studio Tour.

Hope to see you there!

Austin, Texas

Last summer, I was honored to create an illustration for (512) Brewing’s 16th Anniversary beer (a very hazy and very tasty IPA).

We wanted to give a nod to Austin’s history and unique charm, so I hopped on my bike and photographed the graffiti-covered train bridge that sits just south of downtown.

Downtown Austin behind a bridge over the Colorado River.
One of many photos I took of Austin’s graffiti-covered train bridge.

The marks that decorate the bridge are more like messages, sending hope and playfulness out over the city. I have long loved the meditative “Focus One Point And Breathe”, and “Never Give Up” with accompanying Pac-Man being chased by ghosts.

Line art of the bridge.
Sketching the rough outlines of the photograph.

I had to simplify the messages a bit, to make everything small enough to decorate a beer can, and I kept the colors bright and lively to communicate the playful attitude.

Colorful illustration of the river and Austin in the background.
The illustration I created for (512) Brewing’s 16th Anniversary Beer.

The can design looks great and I’m so grateful to have my artwork on such a tasty beer! It won’t be around long though, since it was a one-off batch made solely for the anniversary.

But the joy I got from exploring Austin’s playfulness stayed with me and before I knew it, I’d begun painting the same scene (with a few changes and more details).

Painting of Austin's train bridge and downtown.
Austin, Texas, acrylic on canvas, 18″x36″

Working on a summer scene during the winter months has been a wonderful way to keep my spirits up.

Next up: Barton Springs Pool!

ART SHOWS

My large, gold painting of a “Spiny Star Cactus” was part of the Renew group show at The Muse Gallery and my experimental painting of a sea monster named “Nessie” is currently at ArtUs Co Gallery, on display until April 12th!

Cara standing in front of many paintings group together on a gallery wall.
Me and my painting “Spiny Star Cactus” as part of the Renew Group Show at the Muse Gallery.
A woman stand in front of a group of artworks hanging on a blue wall.
My painting “Nessie” depicting a sea monster (upper left), as part of the Mythos Group Show at ArtUs Co Gallery.

COMMISSIONS

Over the holiday season I created two small paintings commissioned for gifts. The subject matter is a little different from what I usually focus on and it was a nice way to stretch myself creatively.

Painting of a cocktail.
Old Fashioned, acrylic on wood panel, 6″x6″
Painting of an eel.
Rosa The Eel, acrylic on wood panel, 6″x6″

In working on this painting of Rosa the eel, I learned a lot about American freshwater eels. These creatures are fascinating! They spend the first part of their lives as tiny transparent creatures in the ocean before each mysteriously finds its way up rivers and dams to a spot where it will spend years, even decades, living alone. Then one day the eel transforms again and returns to the ocean, where it breeds and dies in the depths of the Sargasso Sea.

Their long lifespan and mysterious ways make breeding eels in captivity impossible, and they have been over-fished across the world (often to be served as “unagi” sushi rolls). The United States is lacking in protections for these creatures, so I’m vowing to never order unagi again and am spreading the word so that people can make informed decisions about what they’re eating.

THINGS I’M LIKING

Watching the Gamelatron sonic kinetic sculptures in action. So relaxing!

Listening to this short podcast about the artist who painted the graffiti on Austin’s train bridge.

Reading The Book of Eels by Patrik Svensson

Seeing the new version of the classic film Nosferatu, out at a theater with a friend. It was delightfully scary!

I hope you’re discovering new joys and making time to meet up with your favorite people, plants, and animals.

Thank you for following my journey!

Rio Grande

Hiking along the Hot Springs Trail in Big Bend National Park, you spend some time walking beside the Rio Grande. As the trail rises and falls with the cliffs, you get to appreciate the river from different perspectives and find little surprises.

For me, the biggest surprise was finding horses grazing in the grassy river banks. This area feels so desolate, it’s hard to imagine any animal that size surviving out here. But it seems that the Rio Grande provides all that is needed, and the horses seemed quite content.

As we hiked toward the hot spring, we could almost make out the outlines of the palm trees which mark the spot where an old bathhouse was built (a hint that we were getting closer!).

One of the many gorgeous views of the river from the trail.
Drawing the outlines of what would become my sixth large painting inspired by Big Bend National Park (and my second inspired by this trail!)
Rio Grande, acrylic on canvas, 24″x36″
Close-up showing the brushstrokes and detail of the palm trees.

Big Bend is such a large park, and I can’t wait to explore more of it…but I think I might return to this spot on my next trip. The Hot Springs Trail feels special to me.

COMING UP

You can see the Rio Grande painting as well as the Inside Santa Elena Canyon painting at the Blue Genie Art Bazaar, open November 15 – December 24, 2024 (10am-10pm daily!). Blue Genie is packed with arts and crafts from hundreds of local makers and it’s my favorite place to get gifts for the holidays. Visit the market at 6100 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78752 or shop online anytime!

Keep an eye out for the new 16oz can from (512) Brewing Company featuring my artwork! The can celebrates Austin with a colorful illustration of the skyline and iconic graffiti-covered train bridge.

(512) Brewing Company’s 16th Anniversary DDH Hazy IPA, available at HEB, Central Market, Wheatsville, and more!

I had so much fun working on this illustration, I’ve decided it’s time to make a few paintings of Austin. Barton Springs Pool and the view of downtown from the pedestrian bridge are already in the works!

Magnolia

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A couple summers ago, while visiting North Carolina, I became totally enamored with the huge white flowers that seemed to cover every magnolia tree.

I couldn’t help myself, and snapped about a hundred photos of the flowers, leaves, and whole trees. I knew that I would have to paint these beauties!

My favorite photo, which became the inspiration for the painting.
Creating the artwork in my studio. I almost always start with a magenta or red base.
You can see the bright pink undercoat showing through small gaps in the top colors.
The final 12″x12″ painting, “Magnolia.”

It was a joy to work on this sweet little painting and remember the fun I had on that trip. But immediately after I finished Magnolia, I started working on another painting of Big Bend. I can’t seem to get enough of the desert and its cacti.

COMING UP!

AUSTIN CITY LIMITS: This year, you can find my art prints, stickers, bandanas, and t-shirts at the Austin City Limits music festival. Look for the Clover + Maven booth in the ACL Market, where they have a wonderful selection of jewelry, art, and more by local makers.

ART GALLERY PARTY: I’m thrilled to have my painting “Inside Santa Elena Canyon” included in the Texas Top 20 juried group exhibition at Ao5 Gallery. Come celebrate with me at the reception on October 9th, 2024 from 7-9pm.

BEER ART: Look for my art on the 16th anniversary release by (512) Brewing Company! This is a dream-come-true for me, as I’m a long-time fan of their Pecan Porter. Join them as they celebrate their anniversary at the brewery on November 2nd.

Illustration for (512) Brewing Company’s 16th anniversary, toasting Austin at the iconic train bridge over the Colorado River. Cheers!

Inside Santa Elena Canyon

Inspired by the famous hike in Big Bend National Park, this painting is a colorful take on the epic sense of awe one gets while walking between the Rio Grande’s canyon walls.

Inside Santa Elena Canyon, acrylic on canvas, 24″x36″
Cara hiking with the sun overhead.
Hiking into the canyon.
Steep canyon walls with the Rio Grande River flowing gently between them.
We sat and watched hikers cross the trickling river while listening to the warbling song of canyon wrens. It was so peaceful! This photo became my reference for the painting.
Line drawing of the canyon.
Tracing the photograph and simplifying the outlines.
Cara painting a bright orange color.
Painting in the outlines after they’ve been transferred to canvas.
The nearly completed painting.
Almost finished!
Close-up image of the painting.
Detail of the people crossing the river.

Before starting the final painting, I made a smaller 12″x12″ version as a way to test the bright colors before committing to them. This was a slightly different way of working for me and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed creating the same scene in different sizes and shapes. It was a challenging but also freeing, so I plan to continue this process with my next painting.

Small version of painting with award.
Inside Santa Elena Canyon, acrylic on wood panel, 12″x12″

Because the small version was finished first, I was able to exhibit it at the Austin Studio Tour’s Group Show, then the Neill-Cochran House Museum (where it won an Honorable Mention award!). Shortly afterwards, it was purchased by a collector in South Austin. I’m thrilled by the reception this painting got as it’s personally one of my favorites – the brightness of the red canyon walls makes my eyes happy!

I’m incredibly grateful for the continued support of the community and can’t wait to see what I create next! Thank you to everyone who has purchased a painting or print, come out to art openings, followed me online, and showed up at the art markets – I couldn’t do this without you!