Carylon Cooper is an American contemporary artist whose work includes abstract, figurative, still life and animal portraits. Carylon was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1948, one of two daughters to Imogene & Herschel Cooper. She attended High School in Nashville and, since she was 19, she has called Chattanooga, TN home. Carylon’s art education began at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) and she followed that by majoring in art at the University of Tennessee in Chattanooga (UTC) where she audited classes in printmaking and mono-printing. She spent time as a model in New York City before marriage and raising three children took priority. During a difficult first marriage, Carylon found peace in focusing on her fitness and became an endurance runner.  Her art proved to be her salvation through a second marriage, which ended after 30 years. Carylon is now happily single and feels stronger than she has ever been, She says: ”every single day of my life has been ordained.”  We hear about her discipline in the studio, and the profound impact of faith and perseverance on her life and legacy. Carylon now enjoys a happy mix of art, yoga, hiking and exercise routines. She also keeps busy as a grandmother of 10 and great-grandmother of 4 children. Carylon’s playlist:Vivaldi Four SeasonsAndres SegoviaChris BottiBrandenburg Concerto No. 61SantanaNora JonesChris StapletonBonnie RaittEro RamazzottiPodcasts including AART Favorite female artists:Louise Bourgeois (Camille HenrotTracey ErminSunny ApinchapongPeggy Kroll RobertsNancy ChabounMargaret Dyer Host: Chris StaffordProduced by Hollowell StudiosFollow @theaartpodcast on InstagramAART on FacebookEmail: hollowellstudios@gmail.com