Today we’d like to introduce you to Aubrey Carroll.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Hi, I’m Aubrey Carroll, a mixed-media artist based in Central Texas. I’ve felt a strong connection to art from a very young age, exploring everything from photography and anime-inspired drawing to printmaking and three-dimensional work during my college years. I’ve always loved experimenting with new mediums and creative processes, and I enjoy finding ways to bring them together.
For more than a decade, I’ve had the opportunity to work with a variety of art businesses and mentors who have helped me develop my skills, expand my artistic knowledge, and explore new mediums along the way. While acrylic painting is currently my favorite medium, my continued love for printmaking and three-dimensional elements has led me to embrace the broader title of “mixed-media artist.”
My work is heavily influenced by my love of horror, anime, and fantasy, which often intertwine with personal experiences and themes from my life. I enjoy balancing darker and fantastical subject matter with a strong sense of whimsy, creating artwork that feels both imaginative and uniquely my own.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road for any artist is always long and winding. I’m still working the 9 to 5’s to make ends meet and painting in the between times, and hustling at art events. Even in my mid 30’s, I’m still struggling to find my place in my art community, and further, our suffering economy. In a world of Ai ever-expanding, it can feel especially void of true heart and human innovation, but I’m holding fast to the human experience. Creating things with my own hands is a joy that can’t be suppressed. I will keep pursuing my passion, despite the financial setbacks and roadblocks life inevitably brings.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Some of my proudest accomplishments as an artist have come from pursuing opportunities that initially scared me! Whether it was participating in a gallery show, applying for an event I wasn’t sure I would be accepted into, or, most recently, challenging myself to try graffiti for the first time,– I’ve found that stepping outside of my comfort zone has been an important part of my growth as an artist.
This year, I participated in a timed graffiti competition alongside a group of incredibly talented and experienced graffiti artists. I was extremely nervous going into the event, but I chose to trust in the artistic knowledge and skills I had developed through years of practice and went for it! To my surprise and excitement, I won the competition and received my first set of spray cans.
More than the award itself, I was proud of what the experience represented. I challenged myself as an introvert by creating in a crowded, high-pressure environment, embraced an entirely new medium, and proved to myself that I could rely on the skills I’ve spent years developing. Most importantly, the experience reminded that taking creative risks, and believing in myself is imperative for true artistic growth. So, reach out to that gallery for the solo show, try something totally new, and believe your own “BS”!
I believe what sets me apart as an artist is my distinctive use of color and subject matter. I am particularly drawn to creating original creatures and “monsters” of my own design, as I find my imaginary world far more stimulating than simply recreating what already exists in the real world, plus–they are just fun!
I use these creatures as narrative devices within my illustrations, giving visual life to emotions, events in my personal life, or simply, spontaneous images that emerge from my own wild imagination. By bringing these beings to life, I’m able to explore ideas and feelings in a way that feels both deeply personal and yet playful. My work allows me to turn the strange, whimsical, and sometimes darker parts of my imagination into something tangible and visually engaging. I use bright, often neon colors, against sharp contrasts as a commentary on the juxtaposition of life itself.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
As introversion is so often associated with artists, I suppose I certainly fit the description. I have always been a quiet and observant person—especially growing up, I was an extremely shy kid. However, once I become comfortable in my surroundings or passionate about a subject, that quietness can quickly disappear. Art has always provided me with a way to bridge those two sides of my personality.
From a young age, creating became an important outlet for processing emotions, experiences, and thoughts that were often difficult to express verbally. When I encountered feelings that were overwhelming, I often found that I could communicate them more naturally through my art. Art gave me a language of its own—one that allowed me to slow down, reflect, and transform difficult emotions into something I could physically manifest and ‘let out’ in a healthy way.
Even in my adulthood, I still tend to spend a great deal of time observing the world around me. I notice small details, interactions, moods, and moments that might otherwise pass unnoticed. Rather than simply documenting what I see, I enjoy filtering them through my own imaginative lens: –creating something that feels more surreal, whimsical, or emotionally expressive. Some of my work may seem silly or “just for fun”, but for myself they are time capsules of various times in my life.
Ultimately, I see my introversion as a superpower and integral part of my artistic perspective. When I’m creating in the studio, I’m often diving deep into a new horror or anime series, or listening through full albums of music from any genre you can think of,–whatever fits the mood that day! However, I also love having friends over for craft nights or attending art vending events to meet other artistic people and making lasting connections with fellow creatives.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plasticdracula/
