CityView Magazine

CityViewNC.com | 43 nothing to something or nothing to ugly to a little uglier and then it's really cool—that process is really exciting." But Merino said she doesn't just work on one piece at a time, that her creativ- ity is so overwhelming sometimes that she finds herself adding to multiple paintings at once. "e majority of my paintings are not detail-oriented be- cause I like to just play with color and just go at it all at once," she said. "I can't wrap my head around painting one line at a time. I'd rather just cover the whole canvas as quickly as possible." In fact, before she started Caroline Merino Art, her art was viewed by the public in the form of speed paint- ing, which is a presentation where she usually paints to a four-minute Chris- tian song and then speaks an encour- aging message. "My business started as a ministry," she said. "I went from church to church and all of a sudden I was doing presentations for businesses, organizations and schools, functions and festivals." rough this presentation, Merino combines her passion for art with her love for public speaking… something she has always wanted to do. "I've been doing speed painting for about two years now and it's taken so much work, dedication, faith and support—a lot of support—but I know firsthand that dreams can come true." And even with her outgoing person- ality and practiced routines, that kind of a ministry takes faith. "Many times I go out on faith that God will work through my hands and words," she said. And aer praying Merino says she steps onto the stage into a trance, going through the motions she's practiced. Aer the four minutes are up, even she can't believe what she has created. "Don't ask me how I did this be- cause I don't know," she said. "I was just there, painting." She explained that aer she has completed a painting and while the crowd is applauding, her knees are shaking. But to Caroline Merino, it's worth all of the nerves, and she even consid- ers the job a form of worship. "It's amazing and I love serving such an amazing Creator." CV Pennsylvania Transformer Carolina D r B r o ck R d W ayside Rd Holly Ln W oo d b e rr y C ir Woodberry Cir Johnson M ill Rd M e d i ca l P av il l i o n D r S tewarts Cree k Shoulder & Elbow | Hand & Wrist | Hip | Knee | Foot & Ankle | Sports Medicine Pediatric Orthopedics | Joint Replacement | Physical/Occupational Therapy | Osteoporosis (910) 484-2171 ~ www.capefearortho.com Experienced, Expert Care Now Available in Raeford! 142 Paraclete Drive, Suite 301 Raeford, NC 28376 Cape Fear Orthopedics is proud to expand our coverage area and extend our orthopedic services to residents of Raeford and the surrounding communities. Providing You With An Elite Dining Experience 910.261.1769 5474 Trade Street Hope Mills, NC 28348 www.elitecateringnc.com

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