About The Artist
Carla, known as The Colorful Backpacker, is a ceramic artist, painter, and traveler whose creative journey began in childhood. “My dad loves to say that when I was a child, he could see something special in the drawings I brought home,” she shares. That early spark never faded—creating and experimenting has always felt natural to her. Though she’s been working with clay for only about nine months, her passion runs deep: “It’s a short amount of time, but I’ve spent countless hours in the studio and loved every minute of learning and creating.” Before discovering pottery, Carla spent years immersed in 2D work. She fell in love with oil painting during college, then later watercolor became her constant companion during two years of travel. “Watercolor became a sort of ‘home away from home.’” When she returned to the Rio Grande Valley, she found a welcoming community of ceramic artists who helped her transition into the tactile world of clay. Now, she’s often found “covered in clay, sketching, painting, working on a mural, or experimenting with any new medium I can get my hands on.”
The pieces photographed in this post reflect Carla’s love for storytelling through texture and material.
She works with various stoneware clays—some of which she literally brings home from her travels: “It’s not unusual to find a bag of clay tucked in my luggage.” She uses underglazes for detailed sgraffito work or as a base for expressive glaze designs. Her handmade earrings are created from porcelain and often finished with delicate gold luster accents. But not every creation goes as planned. “Every mistake—of which there are many—has been a learning experience, usually leading to a stronger version later.” Pottery, she explains, has pushed her to embrace imperfection. “At first, it was frustrating because failure isn’t something we usually embrace, but learning how necessary it is for growth has been a lifelong journey.” The medium has taught her to “reset my standards, stay humble, and find joy in every step of the process.”
Carla primarily sells her work through Instagram and at local markets, though she’s currently in the process of building her own website. Each piece carries a story, often inspired by people or places that have touched her deeply. One such moment occurred during a summer in the Rocky Mountains. There, she met a woman who became like a sister. Carla gifted her one of her first handmade pieces, which tragically broke in transit. “While she was devastated, I was secretly grateful for the chance to make her another. The first one didn’t feel complete.” The second version—a speckled white travel mug adorned with a mountain landscape and aurora-inspired sky—felt like the true expression. “It was a way to reflect her vibrant, joyful spirit,” Carla says. The piece now lives on her Instagram. As a traveler, movement and change are deeply embedded in Carla’s creative process. “Being a traveler, it’s become more natural to adapt, go with what feels right, and constantly look for something new to learn,” she explains. This is why her work doesn’t always come in cohesive collections. Instead, she allows the clay body, shape, and texture to guide her in the moment: “I let each clay body, texture, and shape inspire me differently, moving with the piece.” Her time abroad has also left a profound mark on her work. In Laos, she participated in traditional batik workshops—an experience that was both creatively and culturally moving. “It was not only creatively challenging but also deeply meaningful as I learned its history and cultural roots.” In Malaysia, she was welcomed into a circle of talented watercolor artists whose generosity and skill pushed her to grow. “Both experiences pushed me creatively and personally, and I hope to incorporate some of those influences into my work.”
As for what’s next, Carla says her new season is focused on grounding: “My next season is about learning to be still, investing deeply in my art, and building community.” Outside the studio, she’s passionate about holistic medicine, fermenting foods, making her own tinctures, and spending time outdoors in barefoot shoes—especially while hiking to wild peaks to “see God’s masterpiece of creation.” Faith is the thread that ties all aspects of her life together. “My faith in God keeps me going,” she says. “I want everything I do—whether art, travel, or daily life—to be done with excellence and for His glory.” She lives by the verse 1 Corinthians 10:31: “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
This is a paragraph. Click edit and enter your own text. You can make changes like making the text bold, underline or italic. This is a great place for you to tell your clients more about your story and to describe the type of photographer you are. You can come back at any time to make more changes.
