Merging Mediums: Coloratura Founder Aims to Democratize Creativity with ‘Musical Paintbrushes’

For many entrepreneurs, their business is more than just a paycheck.

It can also be a manifestation of a deeply held principle. Or a desire to create something they’d hope the world will grow from.

For Coloratura founder Camry Ivory, that guiding belief is that “creativity is a universal trait that we all have within us,” she said. In 2022, Ivory created an instrument — the Coloratura — that allows artists to create electronic music and analog art simultaneously using musical paintbrushes.

“I've always been fascinated by the connection between art and music and how they can interact and elevate each other,” she said. “The idea for Coloratura came from my desire to blend these two worlds and create a new, immersive experience.”

The instrument is a combination of an easel, metal canvas that holds silk sheets to collect paint strokes, a palette that holds a variety of paint colors, and 5 wired paintbrushes. Each wired paintbrush is connected to a circuit board that creates a sound from a variety of instruments — such as strings, woodwinds, or percussion — when it makes contact with the metal canvas. 

To keep the auditory experience harmonious, each paintbrush is set to a note within a pentatonic scale. That way, when an artist is painting, the artwork they create simultaneously renders a pleasant melody within the same key. 

“I realized that there was an opportunity to make the process of creating art not just visual but auditory as well,” Ivory said. “This wasn't just about me exploring my own creativity; I wanted to share this with others and show them that creativity isn't confined to one medium or one way of thinking.”

Ivory first started by creating her own art pieces and performing with the instrument during live musical performances. She later expanded Coloratura’s scope to host interactive workshops and public installations that allow others to use the brushes and explore their own innate creativity in a fun, unique way.  

Ivory’s choice of the name — Coloratura — is a perfect nod to the mediums she merged: music and analog art. Coloratura comes from the Latin word “colorare,” which means to color. In the world of music, coloratura refers to elaborate, trill vocal embellishments in which operatic singers acrobatically run up and down scales. 

Before launching Coloratura full-time, Ivory worked in higher education access, helping first-generation, low-income, non-traditional, and adult students pursue and fund a college education. On the side, she’s an active vocal artist with her own singing and songwriting, as well as a singer in several bands, including the indie-pop band The Sexy Accident, KC Latin Jazz All-Stars, and a pair of tribute bands. 

“I've always been drawn to the performing arts, particularly music, with a sprinkle of dance and theater,” she said. “I spent years as a solo singer-songwriter and played in various bands around KC, but I had a strong urge to incorporate artistic elements into my musical performances that would blend the audio and visual in an intimate and visceral way.” 

To grow her artistic practice, Ivory turned to AltCap to secure an ARTcap Express loan. The funds allowed Ivory to rent a larger studio space, hire a part-time staffer, and update Coloratura’s technology. 

“AltCap’s funding allows me to plan for the future and make decisions based on what is best for my practice in the long term versus what’s most affordable at the moment,” Ivory said. “I can invest in infrastructure that will provide me more capacity to grow my business, and the ArtCap loan provides me with a cushion to pay for these items while I’m scaling my business.”

Moving forward, Ivory said she’s excited to see how Coloratura can democratize creativity, and make the act of artistic expression accessible, interactive, and joyful — ”regardless of one’s background or perceived artistic skill,” she added. 

“With this project, I am building bridges and sparking curiosity in others, opening minds to new ways of thinking about creativity, and demonstrating that it doesn't have to be confined to one discipline or medium,” Ivory said. “I believe that art has a powerful way of connecting people, transcending barriers, and promoting empathy and understanding. Through Coloratura, I hope to cultivate a more inclusive and compassionate community where creativity is seen as a universal human trait.”

If you’re interested in checking out Ivory’s instrument or participating in a workshop, check out Coloratura’s upcoming events here.