2006 |
| In the fall of 2006 I went to the John C. Campbell Folk School, located deep in the North Carolina mountains in a small town called Brasstown. The school, positioned on a 300 acre farm, spurred my dreams. I took an acrylic basic painting class and painted my very first professional painting of my cat Furby. I finally realized the potential in my skills. Revitalized by the great mountain folks, I came home and began my career in earnest. |
| Biography |
| I started painting officially on January 1st, 2007. My goal was to show the beauty of the animals I painted. Whether it was the writing spider my family watched over for a summer, or a beloved pet we'd had for years, I wanted to share them and story with others through art. In February 2008 I registered my business "Art from the Heart" with the state of North Carolina. I've been promoting my work on various online gallery sites, such as Artwanted, FineArtAmerica, DeviantArt, and many others to get the word out about my work. My business is driven by my desire to help and honor animals - whether this is through commissions, prints, or artwork I sell. |
My first professional painting. "Furby (original)" 18x24" acrylic on canvas. 2006 |
| Today I live on my parent's 128 acre animal rescue farm. We still have some of the animals I remember as a child and many new ones. All together we have nineteen cats, six goats, three llamas, three emus, a sheep, two exotic birds, around forty barnyard fowl, and numerous wild animals we care for and protect. They are all like family to me! My love for animals has only grown over the years. I respect all animals, from cute and cuddly to creepy crawly, for every creature has its purpose. I strive to get this point across in my work - every animal is beautiful, you just have to have the heart and mind to see it. Thanks to all my friends and supporters for helping me get this far. This is only the beginning of my life and artistic career and I can't thank you enough! |
| Me and my cat Buddy |
| Born in 1988 and raised on an animal rescue farm, I've always respected nature. Every animal I've ever known has been like family to me. The sprawling landscape gave me room to explore and enjoy the untouched woodlands. I was always artsy growing up. No surface went untouched and taping things together was something I was infamous for. During my high school final project at Trinity High School in 2006, I researched wildlife art and decided that would be my career. |
| I want my art to come to life and show the true beauty of animals and nature. |
| I find endless joy in painting every fur, feather, scale, hair, and leaf. I often get the comment, "It looks just like a photo!" I want my art to be real, as if you can touch it, and bring to light what people may not see. Maybe I'm bringing life to a lost friend, or showing the details of an animal that is normally too small to see. I advocate for our wild companions because I've watched them and understand them. There is so much more than meets the eye and I hope to give them a little more respect than they had before. Everything is important, everything is beautiful. |
| Family Credits My mother, Kay Bevan, is a potter working from home. She owns the young business "Four Paw Pottery" and is showing her work in the The Gallery Hall, located in Lexington, NC. She also has a website, www.fourpawpottery.com My father, Ricky Bevan, is a general contractor and has owned his business "Ricky L. Bevan Construction" for over 25 years. He's experienced in his trade and has worked commercially and residentially. He even made our large, two story, 5,000 square foot house. It took him nine years to make it, but his work was well worth it. My younger sister, Amber Bevan, is an aspiring author. She writes fantasy novels and is in the process of having her first novel published. I'm her unofficial editor, and I say with truth that her work is amazing and you won't want to miss it! You can see some of her current work here. My grandfather, Dean Spinks, is a renowned local architect and has designed everything from small structures, schools (including the ones I attended), various commercial buildings, courthouses, and churches. He once aspired to be a cartoonist before he became an architect. It is his lost dream that has helped me go for my own dreams. My grandmother, Yvonne Spinks, is a multi-talented family artist. She sews, crafts with gourds, cooks, and has the greenest thumb I know. She has given me some of her crafting skills and green thumb, which helps me appreciate nature so much more. |
| Me and one of our barred-rock hens |
| All artwork and information (C) to Cara Bevan and Art from the Heart. Refer to contact for questions. |