Women Who Inspire: Carly Erin O’Neil

Carly Erin

Carly Erin

Carly Erin

Carly Erin

Carly Erin

Carly Erin

Carly Erin

Carly Erin

This blog takes me back to my series where I offer praise of women who inspire me to create. The first two were dedicated to my Mom – Virginia Baker and my Muse/Creative Partner – Vassanta.  I enjoy writing these posts as it focuses me on how one person has influenced my creativity and what they mean to me.  This blog is dedicated to one who inspires me on many different levels – Carly Erin O’Neil, or CeO as she likes to be called.

Carly is one of the most prolific creative people I know, expressing herself as a model, MUA, photographer and writer.  I have known Carly for about four years and, in all that time, it amazes me to think that we have actually only shot about 6 or 7 times as model and photographer. We have actually collaborated more as two photographers out shooting together. As I was thinking about Carly, the other astounding thing that hit me is that she is the original source of everything I am doing today artistically.  Through her generosity in sharing ideas, friends, and knowledge, I have met the core people who make up my creative world.  Without her sharing, I probably would not be where I am today and my life would be very different.  During this Holiday season of showing the movie classic “It’s a Wonderful Life”, you can say that Carly is my George Bailey.

However, we got off to a rocky start as a model and photographer.  I had to cancel our first planned shoot.  The day before our shoot, I had a shoot planned with another model and lost most of my camera gear when I took a plunge in a river.  Luckily, Carly believed my story, didn’t think I was a flake.  We shot for the first time a few months later after I had purchased new gear.  And even though we have only shot just a few times together, when I look at my portfolio, our work represents some of my strongest – as shown in the images in this blog.  As with any collaboration, it’s a team effort.  But with Carly’s talents as an MUA, stylist and photographer, shooting with her takes you to a different level.    For example, for our second shoot, I visited her in Connecticut.  We had planned to do outdoor shooting by an old lighthouse.  However, the weather changed, got too cold and allergies were wiping us both out.  We went back to her place and crashed.  She shook me awake a few hours later in the dark and both of were groggy from allergy attacks. In our stupor, we tried making a plan.  There was an empty apartment next to hers that was open. I was not inspired with the idea of shooting against a blank white wall in an empty apartment.  But in a In a few minutes she had created two concepts – using old suitcases and letters with a 1950’s looking dress to create a story of travel and longing.  The other was a crazy ensemble of swimsuit, hose, heels and hat with makeup that has turned out to be one of the iconic glamour images in my portfolio. I’ve also included new images from shoots this year that we did at an abandoned factory.  What I most appreciate about Carly is her ability to see and use the available light to the best advantage.  These images highlight that talent.

As a photographer, she has inspired me to just shoot.  Before I started shooting models and fine art, I was primarily a landscape photographer and got a lot of joy out of it. Since taking up my fine art photography, I had lost that focus of seeing the patterns in everyday life and shooting for the pure joy of it.  We have been on several little adventures just shooting together as photographers.  Through that experience, I have rediscovered the joy of just shooting for the fun of it.  She also has an amazing and unique eye that I learn from.  I come away from things we have shot together envious of the perspective she saw that I missed. So, because of her influence, I have started to just shoot again, adding more joy to my life.

 Carly’s writing ought to be required reading to prevent Alzheimer’s.  That might sound like an insult, but her vivid and unique use of the English language makes my mind work in ways it doesn’t normally – connecting synapses that don’t usually fire.  And from that experience, I get a visual landscape in my head that is astounding.  Pat Conroy is one of my favorite authors and reading his work is like eating a fine dessert – languid, smooth, rich and flowing in its descriptions. Reading Carly’s writing is like eating Rice Krispy’s laced with Red Hots Candy –crunchy, popping, fiery, different and satisfying in that it wakes you up and makes you see the world around you in a different way.  She keeps threatening to write a novel and I hope she does soon.  I’ll be the first in line at the book store.

For her uniqueness and what she has added to my life, it goes beyond being an inspirational muse – but a life changing force.  I feel blessed to call her my artistic mentor, partner and friend.  We have plans in the works to take that creative partnership in new directions and I’m excited to see where it takes us.  Regardless of those results, my life is already richer from the experiences we have shared.

Oh….and she’s a dancer, too. 

If you would like to follow Carly’s work, here are links to her modeling, photographic and writing blogs and websites.

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