I believe that everything we see around us can be felt. If we give nature a chance to sink into our minds and hearts, we can feel the ebb and flow through landscape art. About LauraI have lived in the Rockies , and began painting after retiring from my nursing career. My mentor in Canmore was artist Zelda Nelson. Nature is my inspiration. My Mother Phyllis Gray, now 96, was an artist in Quebec and she told me to pick up a brush and " just do it", when she was in her late 80's. I studied interior decorating after nursing, and operated my own business working with colour and textures. My art education has been hands on painting with professional artists, workshops, on-line courses and books.There is no fine arts degree behind my name, but instead a love of colour and a passion for creating my own style of work which is primarily impressionistic landscape.
My favourite Canadian artist has been Robert Genn, and I enjoy learning art history through travel. The European masters called me to St. Petersburg in 2015 to explore the Hermitage. There is only one lifetime, so never enough time for learning, but always opportunity! I want to spend the rest of my life painting, an hope for longevity to improve like a good wine! I am most grateful to my Mother who taught me about the gift of art in life, and artists Zelda Nelson and Denise Lemaster who have inspired me as professional artists, mothers and women with wisdom and talent far beyond paint. I equate happiness with relaxation and painting for me is meditation with colour. With nature close by, and the gift of time to push paint into something joyful for myself and others, I now choose to slow down and paint what I love. Thank you for your gift of time on my site! |