Shade and Fresh Water
2020, Oil on canvas, 11 x 14 in.
Laura grew up in a small Texas rice farming town, igniting her love of nature. Oil painting classes alongside her father started her creative path. A failed chemistry experiment in high school strengthened this path when a rack of test tubes landed in her lap and she was thrown into the safety shower. That night her father, ironically with a chemistry degree, suggested art class might be a better fit. Life path adjusted and passion in tow, Laura graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Texas Tech. Her combined love of color, drawing, and architecture were further developed over the next 10 years as she worked as an interior architect in New Orleans and Houston. With the birth of 3 sons, Laura transitioned into teaching art and design, first at the University of Houston and later as a high school art teacher. While teaching she worked on her own art practice, winning First Place and People's Choice awards at Katy Contemporary Arts Museum and exhibiting in Houston galleries. She was awarded a grant to study landscape painting in Spain. After an overseas assignment with her husband in the Middle East, Laura now lives and paints in Austin.