Enlightened Artist Blog: Retreat with Me

Caroline Karp Artist Plein Air painting the mountains at her Black Mountain yoga and painting retreat - for the week. This was the perfect location to paint and do yoga. Arya agrees. — Plein Air painting the mountains at my Black Mountain yoga and painting retreat – for the week. This was the perfect location to paint and do yoga. Arya agrees while sitting on my Manduka Yoga Mat

My Travels To North Carolina

You may not know this about me – For the past 12 years I have been traveling to North Carolina at least 3 times a year. In this blog – I’ll share some of my North Carolina artwork and retreat announcements. Sometimes I stay in the heart of Asheville and sometimes I stay at my own yoga and painting retreat. I travel both for business and for pleasure, because my business is my pleasure and my passion.

Wherever I stay I take note of my surroundings, immersing myself in the beauty of nature and in the architecture of the city. My favorite time to travel is summertime, so that I can go out and study the world.

Caroline Karp Artist walking through a creek off of a river in the North Carolina mountains to find the perfect place to paint."It is important to pack your river walking boots when you set out to study nature." — It is important to pack your river walking boots when you set out to study nature.

My blog about pain ting in the river while in North Carolina.

I’ve Become An Expert At Traveling Into Nature And Painting

I have become an expert at traveling to fantastic vistas with my easel, palette, paints, canvas, camera and yoga mat.

Caroline Karp Artist and her dog Arya in a yoga pose with her canvas and paints as a backdrop as well as the North Carolina Mountains."My ritual is to do a yoga practice before painting out in nature. Arya stays by me the entire practice" — My ritual is to do a yoga practice before painting out in nature. Arya stays by me the entire practice

This summer I am planning on staying at Mystic Waters on Lake Lure, North Carolina as a resident artist. During my stay, I will offer yoga and painting workshops and portraits of water-skiers skiing on the lake – sound fun? You may wonder how I made this happen.

The travelers that accompany me change each time and my favorite travel partners are my sons Nicholai and Sebastian and my dog Arya. Pippin, my studio cat, hasn’t made the trip (yet). I’m prepping him by taking him to Sunday dinner each week at Grand Jerry and Grand Pauline’s (my parents). house.

Carolina Karp Artist and her two boys and dog Arya at her North Carolina yoga and painting retreat. — My boys and Arya at my yoga and painting retreat in the North Carolina mountains.

My Mastermind Of Female Entrepreneurs

I belong to a mastermind group of female entrepreneurs working together to realize our individual passions and build our own businesses.

Carolina Karp Artist and her Board of Directors after a masterminding session - winter time in Asheville, North Carolina. — Board of Directors meeting of our Mastermind group in Asheville just outside the French Broad chocolate shop.

In my business I listen to clients’ stories and paint their vision. I capture moments in time – anytime, anywhere. I paint both on location and in my studio from a photograph. My paintings tell a story – either my clients’ or mine. Go to my website to see some of my stories (paintings in my collection).

Caroline Karp Artist painting wildflowers on the sun deck of a mountain home. These flowers were picked while on a group hike after our yoga session. — Painting wildflowers on the sun deck of a mountain home. These flowers were picked while on a group hike after our yoga session.

Featured North Carolina Artwork

Caroline Karp Artist pastel drawing of a bird's eye view of Downtown Asheville, NC showing cathedrals and a pathway cutting through the mountains. — Pastel drawing of a bird’s eye view of Downtown Asheville, NC showing cathedrals and a pathway cutting through the mountains.

Inspired by staying in a mountain house in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains and a Mary Oliver poem called Daisies by Mary Oliver. — Pastel drawing inspired by
**Daisies by Mary Oliver**
It is possible, I suppose that sometime
we will learn everything
there is to learn: what the world is, for example,
and what it means. I think this as I am crossing
from one field to another, in summer, and the
mockingbird is mocking me, as one who either
knows enough already or knows enough to be
perfectly content not knowing. Song being born
of quest he knows this: he must turn silent
were he suddenly assaulted with answers. Instead
oh hear his wild, caustic, tender warbling ceaselessly
unanswered. At my feet the white-petalled daisies display
the small suns of their center piece, their – if you don’t
mind my saying so – their hearts. Of course
I could be wrong, perhaps their hearts are pale and
narrow and hidden in the roots. What do I know?
But this: it is heaven itself to take what is given,
to see what is plain; what the sun lights up willingly;
for example – I think this
as I reach down, not to pick but merely to touch –
the suitability of the field for the daisies, and the
daisies for the field.

Would You Love To Go On A Retreat With Me?

Are you someone who loves original art, sunflowers, yoga, exploration, travel, relaxation and fine food? If so then you are part of my tribe and I’d like to bring you along on my journey.

Dreaming of a Tuscan Sunflower yoga and painting retreat in July. More details coming soon.

Please Leave A Comment

I’d like you hear from you in the comments – if you’d like more information about commissioning me for a painting or you’d like to join me on a yoga and painting adventure.

All my best,

Caroline