Fairmont, Minnesota is known for its chain of lakes, yet as you drive around town, you can’t help but notice another standout attribute: the art. The historic buildings, murals, and painted hogs–yes, painted hogs–invite residents and visitors alike to slow down and admire the finer details of life. 

The town is lucky to have many creative residents, including artist Caroline Porter. You may know her from her work around town, or perhaps you’ve come across her social media pages, where she has amassed over 5,000 followers across Facebook and Instagram. She’s a staple in the arts community—one she joined only a couple of years ago when her family moved to town, though she’s been an artist much longer than that.

“I’ve always been in the arts since I could hold a paintbrush,” Caroline says. 

Growing up, her family bounced around the Midwest, mainly in the Twin Cities surrounding area. After she got married, she and her husband settled in Omaha. At the time, Caroline was working in medical research, but the demanding hours meant sacrificing family time. Once her daughter was born, her mind was made up.

“I’m not working a single holiday, I’m not working a single birthday. I want to be a stay-at-home mom.” 

Her husband had another idea. Over the years, Caroline had cultivated her love of art through community education classes, borrowing textbooks from the local library, and good old YouTube. With that knowledge, and no shortage of talent, her husband suggested she teach art instead. 

It wasn’t too much of a leap. According to Caroline, artists and microbiologists share a common trait: obsession. “You always want to learn more, you always want to better yourself, you can’t stop researching things. I’m up at 2 o’clock in the morning looking at paints.” Both also focus on the “nitty-gritty details of life,” something she’s always appreciated.

That being said, there are also differences. “In medical research, everything was so serious and proper. I like being the total opposite. Breaking the rules, making textured art that’s just asking people to touch it,” she says. 

In fact, she encourages people to touch her art. At festivals, kids often run up and start picking up her pieces. Caroline enjoys telling their panic-stricken parents that it’s okay, that’s the point. “I have a toddler at home, they can’t do more damage than her,” she adds with a smile.

When I asked her about starting her business in Omaha, Caroline laughed. “It was really hard, I’m not going to lie.” Not one to back down from a challenge, Caroline put her business acumen to good use. 

She attended vendor shows and art festivals, where she networked with business owners. In exchange for space to teach her classes, Caroline provided social media and website development. 

“It took a while to get off, but once it did, it was going pretty well.” 

Nevertheless, Omaha wasn’t their final destination. In search of a more affordable and family-friendly home, she and her husband decided to move to Fairmont.

Caroline was unfazed by the prospect of, once again, building a business from scratch. She reached out to local arts organizations, cold-emailed venues asking about classroom space, and did what she does best: shared her talents with the community. 

She offered “Art Walks” leading groups on painting tours through Downtown Fairmont, was commissioned to paint several murals (including the fish pond at Graffiti Corner, a local coffee shop, where she hides “treasures” for kids to find inside the fish feeder), and even hosted painting fundraisers to help the Fairmont Opera House with their capital campaign.

Then, she got a grant from Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council. With it, she was able to purchase watercolor materials and a beveled edge table top cutter to teach a free painting and framing class at the Martin County Library. It went even better than expect ed.

The librarian stayed for the class, and afterwards offered Caroline their own grant funding to continue teaching there. Word quickly spread, and now in addition to the Martin County library system, Caroline teaches free courses in Winnebago and New Ulm, as well as her private classes and workshops.

What started as one session became an unexpected networking opportunity, and now her schedule is full. Caroline notes that relocating to rural Minnesota helped her business flourish.

“I started teaching in more rural communities and that’s when my career exploded, because there’s just so much demand for art classes here.”

While her private lessons are typically filled with retirees, the free courses she’s now able to provide draw a more diverse crowd—allowing everyone to experience art first-hand. 

In addition to teaching, she’s recently started as the Communications Chairman and Art Director at The Hive, which will open early this summer and provide arts classroom space, a gallery, and a performance space next door to The Hub (both owned and operated by Imagine Martin). On top of all that, she’s expecting her second baby in May. 

“My life is a lot of chaos. It’s random hours, a ton of scheduling—I rotate between 17 or 18 venues.” Needless to say, her business is thriving. And yet, the greatest thing that art has given her? “So this is going to sound ironic, but it’s peace.” 

Reflecting on her career path, Caroline admits that there are some things she misses about medical research. “Some of the projects I worked on saved lives,” she said, “but I feel like I’m doing more for the community and my family as an artist.” 

When I asked her what students say they gain from her classes, the answer comes quickly. “Confidence,” she says. “To hear people be like ‘I never thought I could do this until I took your class, you really helped me find my confidence’ I’m like yes!”

Individual artist grants are made possible from funds provided by the McKnight Foundation. Learn more here.