Full of spunk and women empowerment it is our pleasure to introduce Carrie Beth Waghorn as the newest member of the Well + Wonder collective. By the comments and messages we've been receiving on Instagram we know that this artist needs no introduction, her work, and wonderful reputation proceed her in the best way! I am so thrilled to add Carrie Beth to the collective. Charleston-based artist Carrie Beth Waghorn has an amazing ability to capture the feminine form in both her nude studies as well as fashion illustrations (inspired by the insanely talented London located fashion designer Molly Goddard) - they are simultaneously striking yet simple. Lucky for us, both series are available as part of her Well + Wonder release next NOW LIVE in our collection. It is a joy to welcome Carrie Beth. We so look forward to working with you and the opportunity to learn more about the woman behind the artist. Welcome, Carrie Beth!
What is currently on your nightstand?
I do not have a nightstand, though the closest table in proximity to my bed is adorned with the latest issue of Apartamento & a mid-century modern lamp which offers the most sultry light.
Who is your biggest influence as an artist and why?
I find numerous artists to be highly influential in differing ways. Matisse, Schiele, and Toulouse, for example, memorize me with their lines and always will, while my admired friend and artist Armando Cabba astounds me with his work ethic as he paints his ass off every day in his Paris Atelier (Atelier Cabba). I first felt intimately connected to Lautrec upon seeing an exhibit in Barcelona which depicted his early work, showing clear influence from Matisse. I just found it so cool that someone I admired so much was at one point in his life unsure of his marks as an artist to the point that he copied the lines of his favorite masters. It showed vulnerability, and his eventual adopted style fascinates me because he chose to depict women of lesser value in society as effortlessly beautiful creatures. Who doesn’t admire an artist who can do that?
Tell us about your childhood. What is the most memorable moment as a young person?
My childhood was both magical and tragic in many ways. At three years old my father passed away due to brain cancer. The most difficult part of this was being too young to have a full understanding of the extent to which this event would shape my life. Shortly after he passed my mother took my sister and me on a vacation to SeaWorld. Back then they would pick a young member of the audience and let them sit on Shamu. So, at the ripe age of 3.5, I descended the stands and sat on this giant, rubbery wet orca. The trainers told me to look up and when I did I was face to face with more people than I had ever seen. It was a BIG DEAL. I looked out at the crowd and smiled wider than I ever thought was humanly possible. We came home with approximately 17 stuffed animal orcas afterward.
If you could only have one supply in your art studio, what would it be and why?
India ink. it’s all I need!
What is your favorite room in your house? Describe it.
The studio. It faces East and collects the most stunning morning light. It contains a large writing desk, perfect for creating and housing my sewing machine and supplies. It is filled with all the things that make me happy: thick paint brushes the size of my palm, all the inks you could think of, small relics of my childhood, butterflies in glass containers, paintings from my favorites and a stunning hand-carved mirror from India which is the perfect place to sulk, revel, & reflect in front of. It even has a special chair for my studio cat, Meep. Living the dream on the fourth floor of a historic home in Harleston Village!
What is your biggest score online?
I tend to support more local businesses as the majority of small makers/artisans/etc. are people I adore or close friends! It is so rewarding to purchase something dyed by hand or thrifted from someone you know, so companies like Amazon are not really my slice of cake. That said. My very first eBay purchase was a pair of black woven leather loafers from Cole Haan that I still rock to this very day. They even came with me to France!
What is the benefit of buying art through a collective? What do you recommend for those that are new to buying original art?
Ohhhhh where to begin. Collectives are the amazing “cozy little corners in your favorite cafes” of the art world. You have the immediate intimacy of a custom curated collection all within hands reach. Buying your first piece of original art can be intimidating, so my tip is to zone out and stare until you find something that really speaks to you. It’s easy to find art that resonates with you if you take the time to listen.
If you have the entire day to spend in an art museum, which one and why?
The Louvre. I have been there 4 times and still have no idea where it ends or begins.
What is your favorite hotel and what makes it special?
I am so so so sad to report that I have absolutely NO IDEA what the name of this place was/is but maybe that’s what makes my memory of it so fond and special? I can tell you it was a small, family-owned b&b in the town of Lucerne, Switzerland. My bed had a plump feather duvet which felt like a velvet hug. My airy room faced the Swiss Alps and don’t even get me started on the breakfast spread. We're talking homemade waffles with Nutella and a granola parfait that was served on a toy train which circulated the breakfast table with steadfast precision. It was magical and really heckin delicious.
If you were a lipstick color would you be red, pink, or clear and why?
I would be blue. It’s striking and not stereotypically feminine.
I can never get on a plane without….
I don’t really “need” anything to fly. I silently throw shade on people who insist on bringing those silly neck pillows. I don’t even bring books. I tend to just sit with myself, ponder my life, and pretend that the clouds are water and the plane is submerged in another world. It is good to have an active imagination (the free movies also help).
How did you get into the world of art?
At the age of 4 I sat down with a pencil and piece of paper and tried to draw The Little Mermaid. Of course, the stick figure marine creature on the paper looked nothing like the Ariel I had envisioned. Completely disgusted with myself, I set out to practice over and over those same lines. It would seem that many years and & gallery contracts later I have succeeded.
What do you do to relax?
I love cycling. Not the Peloton, actually getting on a bike and riding it. My father was a triathlon athlete and I have his Cannondale touring bike from the 70’s. I feel so content and connected to him whenever I ride it. Also yoga yoga yoga.
When do you get the biggest surge of inspiration?
Nature & high fashion editorials.
Prediction for the Color of 2019?
Lemon chiffon.
What is your idea of a date night? Dinner and a movie or dancing all night?
I just had my dream date. It included a small dinner party with good wine, music, fresh floral arrangements, and my favorite humans.
Tell us about your favorite painting that you have created.
There are numerous pieces I create and really feel quite attached to. It’s that feeling after I finish a piece, regard it and just feel like I am staring at myself, except its this weird ink thing on paper. Those are the pieces I keep. One of my favorites is a piece titled NO VACANCY. She’s hauntingly beautiful and one of those pieces that came out of me like a melody, no thinking or hesitation with the lines, and each stroke was perfect. Her face is vivid in my mind to this day, despite her beauty, her eyes seem empty, she knows she is being regarded yet she has nothing to offer. I painted it shortly after my mother had passed and it may be the only piece of art that fully conveys the contrast of what I truly felt. I know my friends saw me and loved me, but I had no space left in my heart. The piece sold almost immediately.
One piece of advice for buying original art?
Buying your first piece of original art can be intimidating, so my tip is to zone out and stare until you find something that really speaks to you. It’s easy to find art that resonates with you if you take the time to listen.
