Meet Caren Chroma | Artist & Body Painter

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

Hi Caren, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
There is a japanese word and concept called ‘IKIGAI’, which has been a helpful map in deciding on my career path. Essentially, it is the intersection between what you love doing, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for.

My artistry & body paint practice nurtures a deeper sense of self-love, acceptance, compassion and reverence for natural beauty in all its forms~ something I feel more people could benefit from. In a world where we are constantly force-fed commercials & subliminal messaging around unattainable beauty standards/ superficial values, I see my art as a healing antidote. I truly believe that if more people learned to love and respect themselves, then there would be a profound ripple effect in the way we treat each other and the planet. Plus, I love doing it! Body Painting has brought much transformation & beauty into my own life, so it feels natural to share it with others as a unique, ritualistic offering while being supported in doing so. It’s a win-win-win situation.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am currently most passionate about Body Paint Adornment as a creative modality for healing & empowerment. For me, this art is more than just pretty colors and patterns on the surface level.

My personal journey with body paint started in 2010, when I began to experiment painting on myself and noticed an internal shift in the way it made me feel. This creative act allowed me to drop into a meditative state , connect with my creative expression, & artistically mark my personal evolution through paint & photography.

This practice naturally evolved as I started sharing it with friends at creative gatherings, which were the initial steps that eventually led to my one-on-one body paint offerings (aka Chroma Sessions). The more I shared it, the more I noticed how it made people light up from the inside when they gazed at their reflection after being painted ~ like they were witnessing their true magical nature for the first time.

This soon became my “WHY” because to me, there is nothing more sacred than living life in human form, and I believe it can be easy to take for granted with all the distractions in our world. The intention behind my artistry is to help anchor in a sense of gratitude to those who receive and to create a memorable way to celebrate life, whether it marks a meaningful passage (birthday, marriage, pregnancy, etc) or simply as a self love ritual.

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?
There are so many beautiful sweet places to explore in SD! One of my favorite places to eat and hang is Trilogy Sanctuary, which offers yummy eats, yoga, has a cute gift shop and hosts community events/shows with some of my favorite artists.
Another one of my favorite spots to hike and explore is Blacks Beach which has gorgeous ocean views, mesmerizing trails along the cliff & usually has hang gliders majestically swooping through the sky.

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?
I would say first and foremost, I am grateful for my supportive family who have always celebrated my artistic expression from the very beginning. I think it’s often in early formative years that many children get their creativity crushed due to lack of encouragement. I feel lucky that I’m still in touch with my inner child to this day.

I am grateful for all of the artists I was blessed to meet during my 6 year residency at CoSM, Chapel of Sacred Mirrors ~ an art sanctuary founded by visionaries, Allyson Grey & Alex Grey in New York. It is here that I was exposed to so many inspiring artists that held a collaborative & supportive attitude rather than being in competition. This is where I honed in on my body painting skills and deepened my appreciation for art as a spiritual practice.

This is also where I met legendary painting maestra, Amanda Sage. Once 2020 hit and society went into lockdown, she sparked an online art community called the ‘Vision Train’. This now serves as a 24/7 virtual art studio via Zoom, where global artists come to create, paint. learn, teach, share, connect & vision a brighter future together. Without these supportive networks, my life would likely be a whole lot dimmer.

I also give thanks to my amazing partner Ben ‘Smiley’ Silverstein, who is a talented musician and has always encouraged my artistic dreams. Witnessing him dedicate so much energy to producing and playing music with his band ‘The Main Squeeze’ inspires me greatly and was a key factor when I first decided to pursue art full time.

Website: www.carenchroma.com

Instagram: @carenchroma

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

Image Credits
Photography by : Image 1 : Carlene Kanellis Image 2 : Michael Freeman Image 3&4 : Andre Duqum Image 5 : Amir Magal Image 6 : Melissa Robin Image 7 : Chelsea Putnam Image 8 : Carlene Kanellis Image 9 : Maddie Roberts