We had the good fortune of connecting with Caris Turpen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Caris, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
I have long been aware that our fears are what hold us back – from trying, from experiencing, and from finding the way out of failure, or even out of success. I have learned to trust the Universe, and, more importantly, to trust myself. If something doesn’t turn out the way I had envisioned, I have used the information to find another path. I don’t stop walking or learning. I also do my best to walk in gratitude, for all experiences are gifts, good and bad. And, you never know when something you initially evaluate as ‘bad’ will turn into the ‘blessing in disguise.’ It all works out.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I started my creative life as a still photographer, and found my way into the film industry to eventually become a cinematographer. After 25 years in film, having completed working the entire run of WISHBONE (as Visual Effects Supervisor and 2nd Unit Director/DP, and an Emmy® win) I made the choice to leave the film industry and start a small winery. I had initially learned how to make wine as a stress-relief hobby while working on WISHBONE, and then went back to school an got a degree in Enology (winemaking) and Viticulture (grape growing). After the amazingly wonderful experience on WISHBONE, I couldn’t find another project I wanted to dedicate my energy to, and so chose to shift careers into something I was also good at – making wine. The ‘small winery’ turned into a big small winery with a fine dining restaurant where I was owner, winemaker, chef/restauranteur, manager, and resident artist. 20 years later, exhausted, we retired from the wine industry and I was able to concentrate on my life as an artist. The biggest obstacle to that change was being diagnosed with three types of cancer and having to undergo three years of intense treatment. I did well enough to be able to begin building my stand-alone art studio, which had been a life’s dream. Now, I work more-or-less full time as an artist, doing representative/figurative fine art sculpture, sculptural and functional ceramics, painting, photography, digital imaging, and writing.
I’ve always had an ‘eye’, and my love of images, and in writing, is to show my audience something they might not’ve thought of or seen on their own. I do my best to expand perception, both for others and myself.
The biggest lesson I’ve learned throughout my creative process is to tell my own story, to be true to my vision, and to let my work loose to find its own way into the world. In a twist of fate, I have evolved from a storyteller into a type of healer. I can’t heal you, but maybe I can help you feel something or think of something that will help you heal yourself.
In my sculptures, I love finding ‘gestures’, or poses or positions of form, that tell a story. That’s really fun to do with what is essentially a static object.
In my ceramics, both sculptural and functional, I use my painterly skills to add some spark to an otherwise benign form. C’mon, don’t you think using a pretty blue and gold and green pan is more fun that that ol’ black one? I do.
As to ‘easy’ – nothing has been easy, but it is often effortless if I’ve found the true heart in it.
Everything comes from ‘Flow’ – finding the creative stream and tapping into it is a profound and happy reminder that we are all part of the same thing.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
We’ve lived in Fort Worth for 36 years, and have watched the city shift and evolve and become a truly wonderful place. We like the Stockyards, W. Magnolia, Southside, parts of downtown, and many of surrounding trails and parks. We like The Amber Room, Thompson’s Bookstore and Speakeasy, Rio Mambo, Molcajete’s, several of the fabulous sushi/sashimi bars like Hatsayuki Handroll Bar and Little Lilly Sushi, and, since I love to cook, Central Market and the H.E.B. Grocery stores. There is so much here, from every kind of ethnic to hole-in-the-wall burger to BBQ places like Coopers and Heim. Seeing the cattle drive at the Stockyards is fun way to start an afternoon, followed by a visit to one of the spectacular museums, The Kimball being my personal fave. That doesn’t diminish the Amon Carter, or the Modern, or the Sid Richardson at all – they each have a focus and keep Fort Worth on the world art stage.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to dedicate my Shoutout to my husband, Terry, who has always been my advocate, my sounding board, and my best friend. His life and business experiences have contributed to mine, immeasurably.

Website: https://lightcatcher.com

Instagram: caristurpenartworks

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarisTurpenStudioLightCatcher/

Image Credits
Caris Palm Turpen

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