Enjoy!
- how would you describe your art?
L: I say it's intuitive painting. My husband says Soulful Expressionism. Friends say it's inspirational. I want it to be happy, colorful and meaningful.
- what is your process like?
L: I make a cup of coffee, burn some nag champa, open a window and clear off my painting space. Personally, my favorite thing to start with is ink and water on wood or paper. I just let the ink do what it does and start there. It's very important for me to continually remind myself that it doesn't matter what comes out and that I can always cover it if I don't like it. It's the only way I manage to stay out of my own head.
- how do you balance art and motherhood?
L: ...and another full-time job, and being a good wife, and being a student? :). First I have learned that I can't do it all. Not EVERYTHING gets done every day and I'm ok with that. I also move around whatever I'm working on depending where my family is spending time together. Often it's all over the dining room table (much to my husband's dismay).
I guess this is where I give a shout out to my husband because I honestly don't know that I could do it all without him, especially the time it takes for an art fair or a gallery show or yoga training or volunteering. We do our best to work as a team and I try to incorporate my kids as much as possible in what I'm doing. That way I'm able to spend time with them and show them what I do when I'm gone for these things. My daughters are 6 and 8 and love to paint! They also come to some of my art shows when they can. At one art fair I did recently my 8 year old came with me and I brought a small canvas for her and 8 acrylics and she painted the entire time! Both daughters came with me to a gallery show I did at the St. Paul Saints new stadium on Opening Weekend. They had a great time! My son is only 3 and prefers to fingerpaint on himself mostly, so if he's involved then it's usually watercolors or tempera paints outside :).
- what are your favorite materials to work with?
L: I love inks, lokta paper, origami paper, my original photography, gold foil, wood, acrylics and pens mostly.
- which artists inspire you?
L: SOOO many! I learn something new from each piece of art I see. I have been studying under Melody Ross, Alena Hennessy, Juliette Crane, Tamara LaPorte, Mindy Murphy Lacefield, and Mati Rose to name a few. I'm also inspired by just plain inspiring people like Danielle LaPorte.
- what can we find you doing when you arent painting?
L: I have another full time job so a lot of my time goes there, plus parenting of course. I am also studying yoga therapy and meditation locally which I love and luckily I'm able to do it at a slower pace allowing for all the other things in my life. I volunteer quite a bit, especially for a local organization called courageous heARTS. I love long walks and stand up paddle boarding, but I need some alone time for that since I prefer it to be nice and quiet, and that is a rare commodity ;)
- were you creative growing up and if so, was that creativity fostered by your parents?
L: I've always been creative and "crafty". I learned a lot of crafty skills in the Girl Scouts growing up, and my parents put me in a Children's Theatre camp when I was younger for several years during which time I learned a TON about the theatre (makeup, costume design, acting, singing, props, etc...). I also traveled quite a bit internationally in my late teens and 20's and loved taking photos (I adore black and white photography). Remember writing letters? I used to write LOADS of them. Not necessarily because I had anything to say, but I loved putting pen to paper and how the ink rolled on to the paper. I still love that!
- what does art do for you? What do you hope to accomplish with your art (i.e. send a message, inspire others, bring joy etc)?
L: When I started painting about two years ago now, I needed some sort of creative outlet. I felt stagnant and like I was missing something and I was just having a really hard time emotionally with daily life stuff. I always wanted to learn how to paint so I signed up for my first e-course and after a month in or so I was hooked and wanted to learn more and more. When I learned it was OK to use words in your art, I started doing it all the time! My art brought me motivation, inspiration, insight, and love when I needed it most. I hope my art does the same for others.
- what music do you listen to while painting?
This is currently my favorite playlist:
Edie Brickell & New Bohemians - What I am
The Cardigans - Erase Rewind
Natalie Imbruglia - Torn
Sixpence None The Richer - Kiss Me
Nina Gordon - Tonight and the Rest of My Life
The Cranberries - I Still Do
Lifehouse - Between the Raindrops
Howie Day - Collide
Amanda Seyfried - Little House
One Republic - Apologize
Norah Jones - Turn Me On
Lana Del Rey - Young and Beautiful
Lisa Loeb - Stay
Dido - White Flag
Sarah McLachlan - Building a Mystery
Rosi Golan - Hazy
The Cure - Pictures of You
Mazzy Star - Fade Into You
- do you have any advice for artists just starting out?
L: My quote to myself from when I started painting "It's all new, just try". You don't need to know how you are SUPPOSED to use that particular type of paint, or what kind of paper to use. Don't make a plan, just start, just try, just play, you can always paint over it. It's not WHAT you are painting, it's how you FEEL when you paint. Paint because you FEEL like it and it makes you FEEL good. ♥
Thanks again for taking the time to do this, Lara!
You can find Lara on
And on her website
Lovely interview! I'm so lucky to be collaborating with Lara and getting to know her better. Also, Helena, I use the same phrase and closing wish, *be*you*to*full! :) It was a message that came through in a muse painting over a year ago and I love it! <3 :)
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