Meet Beau Carnes | Painter

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

Hi Beau, why did you pursue a creative career?
I really felt deep down that I had to. I knew I had ideas that needed to be expressed somehow, and I’d been making music in my spare time for a while. It just wasn’t clicking, and I’ve always had images come to mind. I needed a visual medium. Painting made the most sense in a small apartment, so I went out and got what I thought painters needed to make something. It kind of spiraled from there, and I’ve been obsessed ever since.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I think of myself as a painter who’s always in conversation with the history of painting, but I’m also trying to shape a visual language that feels contemporary. A lot of my ideas come in these quick, sudden bursts—almost like a flash of lightning—and painting is the way I ground those moments, turning pure thought into something physical with color. I’m self taught, and starting out was really overwhelming. I knew I wanted to learn how to really craft something beautiful, but I had no idea about the history and depth of knowledge you could get yourself into. I became obsessed with learning every style, movement, and technique I could get my hands on. I felt like in order to make the most contemporary images with paint, I needed to go back and understand how we got here.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
South Broadway would definitely be the starting point, checking out the Oddemporium, Corky’s Antiques, and Fifty Two 80’s for antique/vintage shopping. We’d need to also stop in to Capital Tea for a drink because I love that place. Next we’d definitely go to the Denver Art Museum then immediately head over to look at the Kirkland Museum as well. Lunch would be Leven for a sandwich nearby, no question. Next, Twist & Shout for music needs and Vinegar Syndrome for movie needs. Mile High Comics is a go-to place for me when I’m looking for inspiration or just want to get out of my head. Kawa Ni would be the place I would take someone for a great dinner. And any day with friends deserves to end at ESP Hi-Fi with good wine and interesting music.

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 really owe a lot to Art Gym, specifically the monthly critiques. I started attending these critiques about a year ago, and they’ve helped me meet fellow artists, learn how to talk about my work, and get more involved in the wider art community in Denver. Art Gym lets anyone to sign up for their critiques, and they have great guest moderators that come from various backgrounds. It can seem intimidating, but it’s a very supportive place that’s helped me grow and learn.

Website: https://www.beaucarnes.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beaucarnes/