Carla practices one of her favorite songs for an upcoming performance at First Friday Art Market

I’ve been at Creative Clay for 16 years. I want to say I took one and a half years off. I took off in 2013. I was in 'transition' from 19 to 22 years old. So that is when I started coming here. I was in the transition program, and that is how I met Miss Kim. She was my teacher. She kept me safe. In transition, we did an internship in the front, folding t-shirts, greeting the customers, and taking the money.

Now, I do everything. I paint, I sing, I act, I direct—I do everything. My favorite is singing. I think I am a good singer. I wrote a song, my own personal song. I recorded it in the recording studio, and the song is called 'Looking for Love.' I wrote it and recorded it a year and a half ago.

Best Friends a film Written and Directed by Carla Lopez.

My favorite American artist is Whitney Houston. I love her. My first year in high school, here in Florida, I did a talent show, and I sang 'The Greatest Love of All.' That is my go-to song; it was my signature song from high school.

I use mixed media, and I use paint. I use whatever, but to tell you the truth, I use paint the most. I am a perfectionist in my paintings, and I want it to be perfect. I sold two pieces of artwork yesterday. One was a tree under clouds, and the second one was a story about a Cuban mom who moved to Cuba when she was in her 20s. She is a YouTube star with her family.

It is inspiring because she moved from Cuba to marry her husband and had her son first; years later, she had her daughter. I follow her on YouTube.

Wedding on a Beach by Carla Lopez

My favorite painting I’ve done so far is of me as a baby.

At Creative Clay, I love that we are a family here, and if I have any problems, I can go to anyone that works here, or friends or anyone. I am here three days a week. In 2023, I was only here one day a week. It was then two days a week; now it is three days a week.

I am not doing five days a week because I have other things outside of here. I have doctor appointments, therapy, and work. I work at the Cheesecake Factory folding napkins. That is an easy job I do.

I can’t believe it has been 16 years this summer being here; in August, it is my anniversary.

This was when I was 3 months old in Venezuela by Carla Lopez

Looking for Love a song by Carla Lopez:

Verse 1
Tired of being lonely, misunderstood
Tired of life’s rejections, just trying to be good
Always following my parents’ rules, placing them above
Tired of defending the need to find my true love

Chorus
Looking for love
All around the world…
Going To every continent
And I find it

Verse 2
I’m not a little kid, more than just a clean room
Parents don’t wanna lose me to the world....
They keep telling me I’m a baby—I’m not their little girl
I’m not a grain of sand, I’m a full-grown pearl

Exhibitions:
The Good Folk Show Good Folk Gallery Jan 2024
Glass of Life Gallery exhibit January 2024- present
Inspire Inclusion Celebrating Women’s History Good Folk Gallery March 2024
Iconic Landmarks Lost Spring for the Arts April 2024
The Good Folk Traveling Show Good Folk Gallery May June 2024
Summertime Good Folk Gallery July August 2024
A Folk Art Holiday Good Folk Gallery Nov Dec 2024
Retrospective 30: Celebrating Women Artists Good Folk Gallery March 2025

Love & Family Through the Arts by Carla Lopez