Meet Caren Chroma, a body painter, artist, and creative guide based in Los Angeles! Her work explores themes of self-expression, transformation, and the sacred connection between art and identity.
Deeply inspired by nature, Caren uses intuitive design and organic patterns to turn the human body into a living canvas. Through her practice, she invites others to embrace their uniqueness and celebrate the beauty of being fully alive in their skin.
Thanks so much, Caren, for taking the time to speak with us about your artistic journey!
Can you share where you grew up and how this place influenced you and your art?
I grew up in Germany & moved to the midwest as a young teenager. Living in Europe during these formative years allowed me to be exposed to a range of cultures, art, architecture, & biodiversity, which I believe made an impression on my creativity.
Moving to Indiana at such a transitional time in my life (age 13) came with a big culture shock & I remember feeling like an outsider- awkwardly longing to fit in & be accepted.
Eventually, as time went by and I evolved through my teen years, I rebelled against fitting in and started to taste the glimpses of liberation that came from just being my ‘weird’ & ‘unique’ self. This reclamation later expressed itself through my art & when body painting eventually made its way into my life, I loved the way it opened doors to explore deeper layers of myself..
Sitting with my mirror reflection for long periods of time & using my body as a canvas became an avenue for me to contemplate the nature of being, while also being a fun way to process/explore my multidimensional self. Body painting has been a massive teacher & has allowed me to practice love, acceptance, & celebration towards myself unconditionally through all seasons of life.
Natural Face Paint Design by Caren Chroma
Can you share a little bit about why using Natural Face Paint is important to you?
There is something very deep & connecting when working with the natural earth pigment body paint. Knowing that the ingredients are coming straight from nature is very grounding & makes me feel even more connected to the origins of this art form (which originally used clays, ochre, plants & other naturally sourced pigments).
When did you first become interested in face & body painting and did you have any early influences?
I loved having my face painted as a child, but it wasn’t until my late teens & early 20’s that I truly fell in love with this art form. Honestly, it all started with play, when my eyeliner ‘went rogue’ one day. Before I knew it, I had a tree marked on my face & it all spiraled from there. My passion for body paint deepened as I continued to experiment & make it up as I went.
My main inspirations came from Nature, as my style/ approach mimicked the flow & patterns we are surrounded by every single day. I pretty much just transferred the organic ‘doodles’ from my imagination onto the surface of my skin to create line work, shapes, patterns, and contrasting color play. I’ve always loved the ‘surprise’ element as a design evolves over time without too much planning.
What does a typical “day in the life” look like in your work?
The interesting part about being a full time artist, is that there isn’t a clear outline of a ‘typical day’. I suppose there are some core elements that are consistent throughout my days, such as my morning meditation/devotional practice, journaling, movement, hydration, & getting sun first thing in the morning. Eating.. (obviously)... & then anything from taking connection calls, photo/video editing, emails, social media, web design, active art making, painting at events/private sessions, etc. As artists these days, we have to wear a lot of hats to make the dream work.. So I do my best to balance my personal health, relationships, & well-being with the ‘work’ aspect.
I feel grateful that I have found a way to merge something that brings me so much joy as a way to support myself & uplift others.
How do you approach a new face/body paint design? Can you walk us through your creative process?
For me, creating a sacred space that is clean, energetically clear & conducive to creativity is very important. This means removing clutter, smudging, making sure my supplies are organized, a vibey playlist is on, & the lighting is good. I like to take a moment to breathe, reflect, tap into a frequency of gratitude for my life/body, & set an intention for the session (whether on myself or someone else). Once these basics are in place, I approach the painting very intuitively, listening to which colors call & then I just start!
One brushstroke at a time, the patterns build & the design reveals itself. It truly is a process of trusting the flow & using some core elements such as lines, dots, shapes, color, & repetition, to highlight the natural beauty that is already present on the ‘canvas’.
Natural Face Paint Design by Caren Chroma
Who are your biggest artistic influences, and how have they shaped your work?
It’s hard to pinpoint, but in my early 20’s I had my own personal psychedelic revolution which inherently drew me to artists in the ‘Visionary Art’ world. Many in this genre portray the ‘unseen realms’ and energetic layers of reality, often experienced through high states of consciousness, meditation, dreams, visions, etc. Once I experienced the energetic nature of life and the profound gift it is to be alive in a human body, it felt as if the patterns I was naturally drawn to express, were in a sense, highlighting these layers of the human experience.
Also, from age 23-29, I had a unique opportunity to work closely with master artists, Alex & Allyson Grey, who highlighted the power of art when combined with intention & prayer. This certainly influenced my approach to art/body painting & my desire to create a nurturing/empowering experience for anyone that I paint..
After years of exploring independently, I started to do more research on the history of body paint & was blown away by how ancient & global this art form truly is. So many tribes worldwide have a connection to marking & adorning the body. It is affirming in its power to know that this practice has withstood the test of time. Though inspired, I am sensitive & mindful to never copy or appropriate specific patterns that are used in tribal traditions. To me, connecting with our creative spirit points us back to an ancient connection that unites all ‘Huemans’ as One Global Family.
Natural Face Paint Design by Caren Chroma
What has been your biggest challenge as an artist, and how have you overcome it?
Some of the main challenges & growth opportunities have been in finding ways to make a living as a full-time artist in today’s world. There are many avenues to explore, and it can be a lot of trial & error figuring out (& being innovative) with ways to weave one’s artistry & livelihood.
With that, comes another challenging aspect of social media. For me, It is such a love/hate relationship because on one side ~ it gives me the ability to share my creative life, weave connections, & get inspired by other artists, while on the other hand ~ it floods my system with more info than I can humanly keep up with, subconsciously invites comparison, & sneakily sucks my time/attention away from the present moment.
I’ve been overcoming it by consciously taking longer breaks, actively catching & making sure that I don’t get lost in a doom scroll, & remembering that I only have this one precious life to enjoy. Gotta Live it off screen & consistently find the balance!
Natural Face Paint Design by Caren Chroma
What advice do you have for artists who want to face and body painting but are unsure where to start?
I’d say, JUMP IN!
Allow yourself to play, have fun, experiment & remember.. Nothing is permanent -
(Another powerful reminder that body painting teaches us).
I personally feel that the best practice you can get is on yourself.
There are plenty of tutorials on youtube & I have a virtual workshop series in the works.
So stay tuned!
Where can our audience see more of your work and support you?
Website : http://www.carenchroma.com
IG : @carenchroma
