Laura the Explorer. [ Pushing boundaries and taking risks ]

As I continue with inner reflection about why I paint certain themes I often look back to events that may have shaped my present day self.

At the tender age of 4, I ventured out with my much older and wiser neighbor friend Joanie [5] for an excursion.    We were bored with the sand box in her backyard and wanted to see the world.

We walked around the block to go to the ‘monkey bars’ in the local park.  Of course it never occurred to us to notify an adult, let alone ask permission.

What a grand time we had!   Playing on the rungs and encountering our other neighborhood friends.

Meanwhile, my Mom was going out of her mind!   She had NO IDEA where I’d gone, and since she didn’t drive, she called my Father home from work to help look for me.

Keep in mind the horrifying events of the 1930’s, when the Lindbergh kidnapping took place.  That was all my parents could think about.

When my folks found us in the park, they were of course relieved but none too kind.   A bit of yelling and a spanking followed.

The reason I thought of this story was because of a question I heard just the other day….   ‘When do you feel most alive?’

I could easily answer that!   When I see new places and things.   When I have Adventures.   When I EXPLORE!

I love to travel and view new scenes. I call it ‘Eye Candy’.   Not only seeing the forces of nature, [as I’ve written about recently] but also the rich cultures around the world.   And of course seeing art!

While in Scotland a few years ago, we visited the National Gallery in Edinburgh.   To stand in front of a John Singer Sargent’s Lady Agnew, was truly breathtaking. [that’s a whole different blog!]

So I still haven’t gotten to the point of this ‘story’!

Here we go:

For me, making art is like breathing.   I MUST CREATE!    When I don’t paint or create for a few days, it’s like a cold, dreary day.   The opposite of feeling alive.   I want to hibernate!

I also need to push the boundaries.   I don’t like doing the same thing over and over again.   I keep wandering beyond the given limitations of a medium.

Hence, 3-D Pastel Paintings.

In Open to the Universe, I began stepping outside the proverbial ‘sand box’ to venture further and experiment.   [Because this is a pastel painting, I am mindful of the ‘rules’ of using at least 80% pastel, if I wish to enter it into competitions.]  I push and pull.  I cut, score and punch.   I add small elements and combine substrates.   I explore without asking permission.   

This is when I’m ‘most alive’.

In the coming months, I’ve committed [to myself and a gallery] to ‘Go Big or Go Home.’    The upcoming works will take my imagination, and skill set, to the limits.   I’ll be painting larger.  I’ll be taking more risks!     ‘Laura the Explorer’ will be hard at work and no one will be yelling at me for wandering away from the sandbox.

I’d love to hear ways that you ‘push’ yourself and when you feel most ‘ALIVE’!

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I'd like to invite you to check out my website as I upload new artwork often as well as upcoming classes;

January- Online 2 Day Workshop with the Pastel Society of Southern California

January 26-27. Registration is not yet open but you may contact them for more information.

February- In Person 2 Day Workshop at the North Port Art Center, Florida

February 10-11. Registration is not yet open but you may contact them for more information.

March- 3 Day In Person Workshop- Tucson Pastel Society

March 13,14,15 Registration will be available online on October 15, 2023.

May- 3 Day In Person Workshop- MidAtlantic Pastel Society

May 17, 18, 19. Registration is not yet open but you may contact them for more information.

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Please contact me for any art inquiries or The Art Shop here in Greensboro, NC. [email protected]

COMING SOON:  Stay tuned for an announcement about new gallery affiliations in Illinois and California.   VERY EXCITING.