Let's Get Creative...

with Multiple-Award-Winning Visionary Artist and Visual Educator, Carolyn Quan.

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Write your awesome label here.

Write your awesome label here.

Write your awesome label here.

• Creativity Courses
• Professional Development for Fine Artists and Crafters
• Art + Design Offerings and Consultations

Explore thoughtful, in-depth, recorded, on-demand online courses and live private, one-on-one courses and consultations ranging in topics. Or enjoy Carolyn's designer color swatch offerings to apply to your next DIY project. When you enroll at The Creative Life Academy you have the opportunity to add creativity to your life, guided by a multiple-award-winning artist with over 40 years of professional experience and knowledge as an entrepreneur and art professional. 

Live Your Most Creative Life.

Do you dream of living a more creative life or enjoying more success as an artist? Maybe you'd like to turn your hobby into a full-fledged art business or maybe you'd like to simply learn how to express your creative energy in a way that will help you live a more fun and fulfilling life?

We all have the ability to create. Sometimes it just takes some nurturing and guidance. I am here to help you unleash your creativity and to help you to ultimately live your most creative life.

- Visionary Artist Carolyn Quan

Meet Your Teacher, Carolyn Quan.

Carolyn Quan is a multiple award-winning, internationally-collected fine artist best known for her unique photo-based visionary artwork. She's been featured in over 20 publications as well as on radio, television, and in a documentary film.


She is the recipient of 20 American Art Awards - an international art competition - and has won multiple art festivals awards in Beverly Hills, La Quinta, Chicago (x2), St. George, and San Francisco. Her work is held in the permanent art collection of the Kinsey Institute as well as in private collections around the world. She is the Founder of the Spiritual Art Awards - an international art competition - and has been a life-long artist advocate. Carolyn has also produced numerous open studio events in North America including the San Francisco Bay Area; Maui, Hawaii; O’ahu, Hawaii; and Toronto.

She is a graduate of the Ontario College of Art and Design in Toronto with a degree in Communication and Design and a minor in Photography. She was the recipient of the CityTV/MuchMusic scholarship and internship in her fourth year of studies at OCAD.

Prior to becoming a fine artist after the events of 9-11, she had a successful career in commercial art as an Art Director and Designer in the Music and Entertainment industries in New York City and Toronto. Carolyn has worked with some legendary recording artists including Barry Manilow, YES, Grateful Dead, Eurythmics, Jeffrey Osborne, Carly Simon, and Aretha Franklin amongst others. Designs include packaging and/or marketing materials for Sarah Brightman, Kiss, DJ Jazzy Jeff and Fresh Prince, Lionel Richie, Placido Domingo, INXS, Eddie Izzard, and many others. She is the recipient of 4 gold records for her creative contributions to the music industry.

In 1997, Carolyn diversified her business and launched a glossy multicultural magazine, Urban Mozaik, which promoted cross-cultural understanding and celebrated diversity and was distributed across the U.S. and Canada. 

Since the pandemic, Carolyn has re-invented her art career and is now focusing on The Creative Life Academy and developing her creative lifestyle brand, The Q Collection, and has added functional art to her extensive creative portfolio.

She has a passion for sharing and caring and looks forward to teaching you from her extensive experience and knowledge base developed over the past 40 years of her artistic, entrepreneurial, and professional art career.
LEARN face-to-face in Carolyn's private sessions

Personal guidance, insights, feedback, and Q+A in live online sessions. 
Consultations on any topic are available.

LEARN on-demand with recorded classes

Set your own pace and learn when it's convenient for you with thoughtful, in-depth, recorded classes. 

DISCOUNTS for ORGANIZATIONS with MORE THAN 50 MEMBERS

Sign up 20 or more of your organization's members and they will receive discounts on courses and classes. 

Courses, Offerings, and Consultations

TESTIMONIALS

TORONTO - In-Person Smartphone Photography Workshop

OMG, Carolyn, you are an amazing teacher and your very high level of artistic sense shown in your portfolio of photographs helped demonstrate the results of various subject arrangements and orientation of the shot in the picture (to the left). A picture really is worth a thousand words.

I have learnt so much about how to take great photos with my smartphone and I was totally surprised by the numerous methods available of editing photos in the iPhone specifically.   
I can recommend Carolyn without hesitation if you are unfamiliar with making excellent professional quality photos and editing them on your phone. She is a down to earth and natural communicator who makes the lessons effortless and relaxing in an atmosphere of learning. She also followed up and answered some questions that I had not remembered to ask during the course.
Worth every cent and much more!
- PETER FODOR - TORONTO, CANADA

TESTIMONIALS continued...

Northern California Women's Caucus for Art (NCWCA) ZOOM Classes - It Takes More Than Talent: 20 Ways to Boost Your Career As a Fine Artist

This is a wonderful series for entrepreneurial artists who want to take control over how their work is seen and sold. In her series of 4 classes Carolyn covers everything from marketing, branding, building a collector base, and selling your art through multiple channels ranging from retail venues to festivals. I learned a lot and appreciate Carolyn for sharing her tips and experiences from a long career in managing her art practice.  

- PRISCILLA OTANI - SAN FRANCISCO, USA
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