In 2018, while I was attending art school in New York City and working as a part time bookseller, I began my YouTube channel, CarolynMarieReads. My hope was to create a positive space online where fellow readers and creatives could connect through a mutual love of storytelling. To my delight, that is exactly what it became!

 

Then, in 2020, I opened my online art shop (on Etsy). Thanks to the incredibly kind people who support me, my videos, and my shop, I have sold thousands of prints, bookmarks, original artworks, and more, world-wide. 

 

Finally, in 2021, I graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Illustration, and a minor in English with a concentration in writing. 

A few months after I graduated from FIT, I had the immense honor of winning first place in the Society of Illustrators student scholarship competition for my oil painting “The Red Rabbit,” which is a reimagined book cover design for Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.

 

Since then, I’ve continued to create written and drawn narratives, make videos, sell artwork, and connect with readers around the world.

When I’m not creating art, writing, or reading, I love to be outdoors, going on walks with my husband, Leon, and our sweet dog, Willow. Oh, and I can’t forget baking delicious treats to share with family and friends. 

 

My greatest inspirations come from observing the natural world, exploring familiar and new places, reading books, looking back at history, and always channeling my childlike wonder.