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

Hi Lisbeth, what do you think makes you most happy? Why?
Even though life itself involves trauma at times for all of us, both little things and big things make me happy. I’m happy when I have time to watch one of my favorite TV shows. I’m happy when I have the opportunity to travel. I’m happy when my daughter’s career advances. I’m happy to wake up each morning. Sunsets, sunrises, and bodies of water make me happy. Eating a favorite food makes me happy. I’m happy when I am so involved in writing or art that I lose track of time. Happiness is a result of circumstances, but also an attitude. I choose to be happy whenever possible. I’m a walking Pollyanna!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a primitive, outsider artist. For those unfamiliar with the term “outsider” in this context, this means that I am not formally educated in art. My mother was an artist who did portraits for people and also painted beautiful still-life paintings and landscapes. My daughter is incredibly creative, and she has a BFA in Fashion Design from Parsons, the New School for Design.

In fifth grade, I was elected to be the artist for the newspaper our class published for elementary school. I remember there was a small scandal when I drew silhouettes of a boy and a girl almost kissing for the February issue! I wish I still had all of those newspapers, but I was from a large family of five children with two parents, and nothing that could be tossed was ever saved.

Instead of studying art in college, I got my degree in professional writing, and writing is something I also love to do. Thereafter, I got a degree in Law, then practiced law for 41 years. I am still active in the criminal bar, being on the editorial board and writing for the Q&A, which is the newsletter of the Criminal Section of the Oklahoma Bar Association.

Sometimes, I dream about returning to college to get a degree in art and learn more of the fine points of the profession. Fortunately, just like writing, no degree is required, so I do what I can when I can. For the record, a degree and a license is required to practice law.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Although I love Dallas and realize this is a Dallas-based magazine, I live in Norman, Oklahoma (home of the University of Oklahoma). We have a wonderful free museum, the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art. Visting the museum is free through an endowment of a generous couple, and the current exhibit (as of this writing) is Synesthesia, and the exhibit runs through June 4, 2023. That’s the first place I took my daughter when she visited from New York City. You can also see the famous/infamous Mustang statue created by Luis Jimenez. Unfortunately, Jimenez was killed in an accident in his studio when he was constructing another Mustang statue for the Denver Airport.

Also, if the weather is not oppressive, walking around campus to see the different statutes is delightful. This includes everything from Heisman Park, where statues of every OU Heisman winner is erected, the three statutes of the Selmon brothers (Lucious, Dewey, and Lee Roy, defensive linemen who helped OU win two National Championships in 1974 and 1975), the OU Seed Sower Statute (a man showing the seeds of knowledge), and various other art statutes on campus.

A visit to Norman is not complete without dining at Tarahumara’s Mexican Cafe for amazing Mexican food or The Diner for a great breakfast or lunch. A trip to nearby Oklahoma City would include a visit to the National Memorial Museum (to honor the victims, rescuers, and survivors of the bombing of the OKC Federal Building on April 19, 1995). Also, the First American Museum is a must-see place which presents the history of Native American culture.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
People in my life who deserve credit and recognition in my story are those who offer encouragement for my work in writing or art. Never underestimate the power of someone who believes in you. When the angel Clarence in the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” asks a senior angel if he is supposed to help George Bailey because he is sick, the senior angel replies, “No, worse. He’s discouraged.” Encouragement by other people is the ultimate in hope. You have to learn to ignore the discouragement from those who, for whatever reason, do not support your work. A great place to find encouragement is through writing groups, and I am involved in several.

Website: www.lisbethmccarty.com

Instagram: Izzieshakes

Facebook: Lisbeth L. McCarty

Other: Blogs: https://lisbeth.substack.com

Image Credits
Credit: Lisbeth L. McCarty

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