A Little Bit About Me & My Journey

Born and raised in Colorado, multidisciplinary art teacher Joshua Carpenter always knew he was going to grow up and say something with his creativity. Currently obtaining a BFA in art education with a minor in art history at Metropolitan State University of Denver, Carpenter works in the land of fantasy to capture their conceptual and faith-based outlook on life. Carpenters’ practice takes inspiration from literature and storytelling through the lens of identity. “Every painting, sculpture, form, and creation of work is a prayer and story set upon the world from the depths of my own heart, with the hope that someone, even just one person, will listen.”

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     The question of  “why” always seems to accompany me like an old friend, trailing me around, questioning my every thought. As a child I never understood why the whole world wasn't a big playground. I mean we have the means to make it one right (still seems like a great idea)? I thought I would know when I was older, but instead the question of “why” became more recurrent - why as a society are we always fighting? Why do we have to work forty hours a week to consider ourselves “successful”? With each new suffocating obstacle in life, my fight to remain rooted in the childhood ideology of whimsicality has been gilded, and that's where my art comes from: passion for change, a drive for creativity, and a knowledge that the best educators do not choose to educate, but are called to their profession to provide back to the world. 

     I pursue art education not because it was my childhood dream, but because it is my adult dream. Leaving high school abruptly in 2020 was a challenge; I was thrown into a world of having to make a living and was expected to have it all figured out by tomorrow. One day, I was hanging with my friends and the next I was standing behind a cash register, unknowing how truly mundane life could be - something I'm sure everyone can relate to. Not so long into that new world, I dove head first into my art for comfort, and once I realized how that art helps not only me but others around me who could understand just as well that life could be more than an endless rotation of work, I knew I had found my calling. 

     When I was little I would perform shows with my plastic piano for my parents, I would draw all over my furniture with markers and my favorite toy was one of those Etch A Sketches. It seemed the more I looked back, the more I realized: I have always been an artist, born with creativity in my soul and a mind to create - creation filled with a wonder and love of the world, something I will always try to instill in my work. My end goal is quite simple: change the world one student at a time. After all, the world is a beautiful and outstanding place, and while it has its faults, none can vanquish the magic hidden in each and every corner of creation. 

     We are always so focused on labeling and categorizing in the art community when, really, we should be forever growing, learning and evolving without any worry about fitting into a style. I hope my work reflects that with its themes of whimsy, regality and beauty. Whether it be a pretty flower or an elaborate piece of conceptual art, I create what I wish; and what ties all that work together - whether it be a painting, sculpture or quick sketch - is the hand that made them, forever creating my own personal wonderland where there is no “why”?