Welcome, or welcome back, to my Stanford Pen Studio (SPS) series. If you haven’t seen my previous posts, I suggest you check them out to see the amazing work the SPS collective produces. This entry is spotlighting Carla Nel who you can find on Instagram and Behance.
SPS Series Posts: SPS Overview | Brandon Lodewyk | Carla Nel | Di Möhr | Hanna Farmer | Kseniia Nel | Lana Le Roux | Lisa Strachan | Val Myburgh | Yulia Glas | Zelna le Roux | Initial Wrap-Up
I’m still trying to determine what pen(s) I want to get with Carla’s art, although I’ve been seriously tempted by a few of her beautiful works.
Carla is a professional illustrator, graphic designer, and multimedia artist. She works in widely versatile styles ranging from quirky and bold to somber and surreal to photorealistic pointillism. She works digitally and analog, with stunning results regardless of medium.
How did you learn about Stanford Pen Studio?
In the beginning of 2023, I started to freelance in Hermanus as a graphic designer, multimedia artist, illustrator, and fine artist. I was basically doing just a little bit of everything and started to get quite involved with the markets there — like Hermanus Country Market and Art in the Park. A while later Lana and Zelna contacted me about joining their Gallery in Stanford, and a little while later they let me know that Di and Dave had seen some of my art and would like me to give pens a try.
I love that artists are helping recruit other artists to work with SPS. And, Di and Dave definitely have good taste, because Carla’s work is beautiful.
How long did it take you to decide to work with them?
It was quite immediate actually. I love to learn new things and pens seemed like a bit of a challenge to me! I wasn’t really used to working on a 3D surface and it sounded really fun. So, I gave it a try and pretty much fell in love with it immediately. Plus, Di and Dave are just such wonderful people, I was just really excited to have the chance to work with them.
Artists and makers tend to enjoy — even thrive — on challenges, and clearly, Carla is no different. Based on how great her first pen turned out, it didn’t pose too much of a challenge.
How do you feel about creating art on pens? And what was your first thought when you learned about it?
I love the idea of creating these one of a kind pieces that are functional and just so full of life and detail. I love seeing how people enjoy them and honestly making them just makes my soul happy. The whole pen community is just filled with the most generous, whole-hearted, wholesome people and I love that making the pens allows me to explore a little more “creative freedom.” Working in a corporate design field, that’s surprisingly not a luxury I have most of the time.
I honestly didn’t even know that this kind of market existed. I was surprised and eager to learn more.
While Carla may not be as prolific as some of SPS’ other artists, her work has adapted beautifully to pens. I’ve been unlucky in terms of money availability when her pens drop, because several of them have been VERY tempting.
What do you consider the hardest part of working on pens?
I sometimes struggle to come up with new ideas — or at least ideas that would fit into the design space available on the pens… It can sometimes be a bit of a struggle to make the compositions work, but it’s always so satisfying to figure it out.
Well, Carla claims that figuring out the compositions is difficult, but she makes it look easy!!
Has pen work affected your non-pen art in any way?
It has slightly, but not in a bad sense at all.
Since moving to Cape Town, I don’t really have the time or space available to make full-scaled art pieces all the time — as much as I would still love to.
With the pens however, even though they are time consuming, I don’t need as much room to work on them. I do still doodle in my art journal every now and then though.
I’m happy to know that pen art is providing Carla an artistic outlet. I look forward to seeing more pens from her in the future.
What is your favorite part of working with Stanford Pen Studio?
Di, Dave and Lana. Hands down.
They just have such a passion for making these pens, and I love seeing what other people are up to as well. They keep me inspired. I’m just in love with their studio as well, and hopefully one day when I grow up, I want the exact same kind of workshop 
.
Di and Dave’s studio must be an artist’s playground — or dream — with the way their partner artists talk about it. Hopefully Carla will be able to build her own dream studio bit-by-bit.
Has your work on pens turned you into a pen person?
100% yes. I appreciate fountain pens a lot more now. You never realise the time and effort that goes into something until you become a part of it.
Another pen person! Fountain pens are definitely a lot of work, and I, for one, appreciate that Carla is willing to put in time and effort to be part of that process.
Get an SPS pen with Carla’s art!
See all of Carla’s currently available pens »
I appreciate Carla taking the time to answer these questions. And, I eagerly look forward to owning a pen with her art on it. It’s on my wish list for the coming year!
What do you think of Carla’s work? Do you own any of the pens she has helped create? If not, would you be interested in one? Let me know in the comments! I’d love to hear from you.
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