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Dirty Paintbrushes

By Carolyn Wolf


There’s a deep misunderstanding that often follows women who wear black lipstick, dark eyeliner, tattoos, or plaid shirts. People are quick to label—“gang affiliated,” “chola,” “hard,” “dangerous.” But labels are lazy. And labels lie.


In my ongoing painting series, Black Lipstick Army, I’m not painting fashion. I’m painting truth. These women are not stereotypes. They are strength, beauty, struggle, pride, and identity—rendered in acrylic. The black lipstick is not cosmetic—it’s armor. A shared symbol that unites these women, showing how alike we are at our core, even when the world tries to divide us.


What I want people to understand is that each woman I paint carries her story on her skin, in her eyes, in her posture. Their appearance is shaped by the places they come from—and that is not something to fear. That is something to honor.


Many of the women in my series are Chicana, with deep roots in the barrio—women whose style reflects culture, family, and resilience. Dark hair, maybe some blonde streaks, plaid shirts, bold lips. It’s a look that’s iconic, even globally admired—especially in places like Japan, where this style is celebrated with sincere appreciation.


But make no mistake—this series isn’t only about Chicana women. The Black Lipstick Army is made up of all kinds of women. Some are full-figured. Some are wrinkled, their skin telling stories that only time can write. Some are young, others carry generations in their gaze. They come from different cultures and regions, each bringing their own voice, their own background, their own truth.


What they share is a presence that makes people nervous—because they defy expectations. They don’t fit into neat categories. And that, too, is something to embrace.

The world wants to look away from what it doesn’t understand. But I challenge you to look closer.


Take the time to really see these women.Read their stories.Let yourself feel something.Find your compassion, your connection, your common ground—because whether you recognize it yet or not:They are YOU.


I’ve lived the judgment these women face. I wore plaid because my grandpa wore it when we went hunting. It meant something to us. But outside that context, it made me a target for assumptions. I learned early on that appearance can overshadow truth. But the women I paint teach me again and again: never apologize for who you are.


My Black Lipstick Army tells the stories of women who walk through the world unapologetically. Women who’ve been misunderstood, mislabeled, and underestimated—but who keep showing up. Who raise children, survive trauma, create beauty, and hold it down for their communities every single day.


Whether she comes from a neighborhood where the streets speak louder than textbooks, or from a place where designer dogs and handbags are the norm—every woman is a product of her environment. That doesn’t make one better than the other. It just means their stories are different. And every story deserves respect.


This series is my way of saying:You are not alone.You are not a label.You are not here to fit into someone else’s box.You are here to be seen—as you are, where you are, in all your fierce, complicated, and beautiful truth.


The Black Lipstick Army isn’t a trend. It’s a tribute.

To the women who walk into a room and don’t shrink.To the girls who were taught to tone it down and decided not to.To the mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends who carry generations of strength in their bones.


You are the army.And you are not here to be explained—you are here to be honored.



 
 
 

As artists, we often search for sparks of inspiration—from the colors of a New Mexico sunset to the quiet resilience in someone’s eyes. But one of my favorite and most personal sources of creative fuel (besides music) comes from movies—specifically films about artists.

There’s something powerful about watching the artistic process unfold onscreen. These stories, whether based on real artists or fictionalized ones, offer a glimpse into the emotional highs and lows of creative life. They remind us of our shared struggles: self-doubt, passion, conflict, vision. They connect us across generations and mediums.


While I paint, I often stream biographical or art-centered films—ones I’ve watched so many times, I don’t need to look up from my canvas to know what’s happening. Their dialogue, pacing, and emotional arcs play in the background like a familiar rhythm, keeping me grounded in the creative zone.


Here are some of the films I return to again and again, each offering something different, whether it's visual beauty, emotional depth, or artistic defiance:


  • Frida – A powerful, visually stunning portrayal of Frida Kahlo’s fierce spirit, pain, and passion.

  • Modigliani – (one of my favorites) A film that captures the chaos and brilliance of a tortured soul obsessed with love and art.

  • Surviving Picasso – A complicated look at genius and ego, told through the eyes of the women around Picasso.

  • Basquiat – Raw, poetic, and full of heart. This film pulls no punches in portraying the rise and fall of Jean-Michel Basquiat.

  • Girl with a Pearl Earring – Quiet and painterly, this film is almost like watching a canvas come to life in light and shadow.

  • Big Eyes – A haunting reminder of artistic voice and ownership, wrapped in 1960s kitsch and truth.

  • Exit Through the Gift Shop – Banksy’s wild, layered documentary that questions what art even is anymore.

  • Great Expectations – While not directly about art, the lush visuals and strong character designs always fuel my creativity.

  • Slaves of New York – A quirky, cult-classic view of NYC's 1980s art scene and the struggle to be taken seriously as a woman artist.

  • Goya's Ghosts – A darker, historical exploration of power, censorship, and the artist’s role in times of upheaval.

  • Heartbreakers (1984) – Not to be confused with more recent films, this one with Peter Coyote and Nick Mancuso is hard to find, but worth the effort. It’s moody, romantic, and captures that raw, existential search for meaning that’s so familiar to many artists.


If you haven’t seen some of these, I recommend watching them once with full attention—let them sink in. Later, they can become companions in your studio, feeding your process without distraction.


There’s a unique comfort in creating while these stories play in the background. It’s like working alongside a lineage of artists who’ve faced the same questions you might be facing now. Why do we keep painting? Who are we painting for? What does it mean to create something real in a world full of noise?

Art, like film, is about storytelling—and when the two collide, the results can be deeply inspiring. Whether you’re sketching in silence or dancing your brush across the canvas, these films remind us that we’re never alone in the creative struggle.


What movies inspire you while you work?

 
 
 

I'm honored to share that two of my works are currently on view in exhibitions that hold deep meaning for me as an artist and a woman with deep New Mexican roots. My heritage—woven from many generations of Mexican and Native ancestry—guides the heart of my work, and I’m grateful to have opportunities this summer to share that voice with wider communities.


¡CHICANAO! Caminos Distintos at the Millicent Rogers Museum

Taos, NM | June 6 – November 2, 2025


Chela and Milena are currently being exhibited at the Millicent Rogers Museum in Taos, NM, as part of ¡CHICANAO! Caminos Distintos—a powerful and timely show exploring the richness, complexity, and evolution of Chicano identity through contemporary art.

The term Chicano was once used as a slur, but over time it has been reclaimed and redefined as a source of pride, resistance, and cultural strength. The exhibition title, Caminos Distintos (“Different Paths”), honors the many ways Chicano/a/x artists in New Mexico express their identity—through family, food, landscape, spirituality, Dia de los Muertos, and evolving artistic voices.


To be part of this museum show is a tremendous milestone for me. It is my first time exhibiting in a museum setting, and I am incredibly humbled to contribute to this historic and resonant moment. I’m also honored to share that Milena has sold—thank you from the bottom of my heart to the collector for supporting this journey.



Pasión de Frida at Puerto Alegre

San Francisco, CA | June 28, 2025 | 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM


I’m also thrilled to announce that my painting “Not Fragile Like A Flower, Fragile Like A Bomb!” will be featured in the Pasión de Frida event in San Francisco at Puerto Alegre, located in the heart of La Misión. This celebration is part of Fiestas Fridas, honoring the life and legacy of Frida Kahlo.


This painting is part of my Black Lipstick Army series, which celebrates the strength, defiance, and individuality of women. Frida Kahlo—bold, brilliant, and unflinchingly herself—was a natural muse for this piece. Despite unimaginable physical pain and emotional struggle, she never gave up on her truth. She painted her body, her heartbreak, her politics—and she did it all with fire. “Not Fragile Like A Flower, Fragile Like A Bomb!” honors that spirit, and I’m proud to share it with a community that understands her impact so deeply.

A portion of the proceeds from this event will support the Mission Education Center, helping local students and families in San Francisco.


Thank you to everyone who has supported my art, shared kind words, or visited these exhibitions. These works are rooted in heritage, memory, and a desire to honor those who came before me. If you're interested in learning more, purchasing a piece, or just connecting, please reach out through the contact page on my website or message me on Instagram. I would love to hear from you.


With gratitude y corazón,

Carolyn Wolf


 
 
 
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