We recently had the chance to connect with Caroline Allen and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Caroline, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: When have you felt most loved—and did you believe you deserved it?
I feel that I’ve felt the most loved when I FINALLY started to improve with my art. Compliment after compliment, I felt that I was getting better. However, I feel we all suffer from imposter syndrome. One minute I can see my art, and think, “this is great!” and another, “I’ve done better”. I think that this universal feeling makes artists really question their worth. That’s why I’ve started to appreciate the process and finish line more than the outcome. I can see the finished product and say that I started the project and succeeded in finishing it.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hey there! My name is Caroline Allen, and I’m a visual development artist working in the feature/TV children–teen industry! I go by the name “kaloncaro” online because it’s a name I’ve resonated with for a long time. I’ve been a long-time creator of characters and the worlds they inhabit. Whatever it is—an underwater, desert, or sci-fi story—I’m your gal! A lot of my work is centered around funny little characters and nostalgic feelings.
I’m about to graduate from school, and I’m ready to dig right into the industry with all I’ve got!
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
A timid and awkward teenage girl, I was about to graduate high school and thought I’d go into pharmacy at my state college, which is so funny looking back because I wasn’t that great at science. You wouldn’t want me as your pharmacist, so I did you a favor and went with art instead. Jokes aside, I never thought art could earn a living, as I grew up hearing the “starving artist” trope. One of my art teachers back then, Mrs. Ashley Wyrick, was a great help in influencing me to change my path. She saw the value in my work that I had worked so hard on in my art classes. I just felt so much happiness creating as well. I always try my hardest in my classes and outside of them, not just to build a portfolio, but to make myself happy too!
What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
As I stated, I was shy and awkward. This made it extremely hard to make friends. I would cling onto the couple of friends I made, which created separation anxiety. When I came to college, I made it a habit to reach out and talk to people, to participate more in classes, and to force myself out of my comfort zone. This isn’t all just about networking and getting yourself out there, but also about getting to know people you would have never spoken to unless you just tried. I deeply encourage all of you reading to get yourselves out of your comfort zone and make new friends, because as I approach graduation, I can confidently say it’s served me well—I have such amazing friends and peers!
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
It’s been a hard pill to swallow, but there will always be someone who is better than you, no matter how hard you try. I believe having both skill and networking abilities will get you the farthest in this industry. Someone may not like you for how you look, or for that one thing in your portfolio, and sometimes it’s just not meant to be. To all my friends out there struggling to get a job right now: you have time. Your inability to get a job doesn’t determine your worth—maybe it’s not the right time. Sometimes it takes people years after graduation to get their first job, so keep pushing!
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: When do you feel most at peace?
I’m the most at peace when I’m doodling my silly little characters, without a care in the world! Doodles and sketchbooks are there for a reason—to serve as brain barf. Anatomy doesn’t have to be correct; maybe one eye is about to fall off little Pedro’s face, but who’s to care? (Except me, maybe, sometimes.)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kaloncaro.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaloncaro/?hl=en
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-allen-44532b276/
Image Credits
Caroline Allen
