Lauren Anderson Fine Art
Star Castle Spotlights are monthly artist spotlights that feature one of the many artists/makers that inspire the Star Castle community.
As a classically trained fine artist myself, Lauren Anderson’s realistic style of painting really peaked my interest from the first time I laid eyes on her work. Lauren has an uncanny ability to realistically capture the detailed shadows and intricacies of her unique still life scenes, but she’s more than just talent– she also exudes goodness through volunteering her talents to give back to the community.
Lauren has dreamt up a truly beautiful way to give back through her art, by way of a project she calls, "Paintings for Patients" where she paints small watercolor paintings of flowers for patients who are unable to have any live plants or flowers in their hospital rooms.
I can’t wait to share more about this fabulous human being & super talented artist, Lauren Anderson. Also, be sure to checkout more of her work and give Lauren some love on her website: laurenandersonfineart.com.
I've always been more drawn to drawing and painting objects and spaces; I feel at home when I'm working from still life, though lately I'm enjoying bringing together landscape and still life in unexpected ways. I gained a new understanding of painting what I see and experience when I went to Italy in 2013 to participate in a landscape painting masterclass with Israel Hershberg and the Jerusalem Studio School. There, for the first time, I started to understand how painting from observation could be so much more than just copying or imitating as closely as possible. That experience continues to inspire my work.
Representational, inventive, intriguing
Success for me is two-fold; creating works that are successful but also being successful from a career viewpoint. As a full-time artist, I want my work to be meaningful and technically excellent, but I would be remiss to say I didn’t also want recognition, representation, and of course to have a financially lucrative business as an “art-repreneur.”
In the midst of life’s chaos, I hope my work gives the viewer a moment of quiet. A moment to hear their own thoughts and delight in a beautiful moment of solitude, and reflection as they encounter the subtle quirkiness of ordinary life in my paintings.
My studio takes up one of our small spare bedrooms; I like to have an organized and efficient work space, which means I'm reorganizing it every 6 months or so... I've really enjoyed having my workspace in my home, but I can definitely see the benefit of having a separate place of work.
Finding meaning in what I'm doing as an artist.
“Wholeness brings satisfaction and fulfillment in the work we do– no matter the profession.”
A year or so ago, I was really struggling with the "but, who cares?" question in regards to my work. So I started working with Marianne Mitchell as my artistic development coach and mentor; she's really helping me break down the questions and obstacles that were, and still are, holding me back. We've dissected what inspires me and why, and ultimately how the essence of "me" manifests itself in my work. Marianne teaches a philosophy around wholeness that brings together your heart by knowing your authentic voice, your hand by having the tools and techniques to convey your message, and your head by possessing the confidence to show up as the artist you want to be. Wholeness brings satisfaction and fulfillment in the work we do no matter the profession. Working with someone has been immensely helpful; it's so easy to feel overwhelmed by trying to figure things out on your own.
Talent isn’t everything, there’s always something more to learn.
It's so important to be confident in what you're doing, but to also have an attitude of humility.
Rejection is part of every artist’s journey and it makes us stronger. Don’t let it be the final word. I’ve been given this advice in many different ways, by many different people, and it’s still helpful every single time. We can’t take rejection personally, and we just have to keep trying and having the courage to put ourselves out there. It’s also helpful to treat rejection as an opportunity to learn something.
If you’re still in school, take some business classes, or maybe even get a business minor. Whether we like it or not, when we sign up to be an artist, we are also signing up to be businessmen and women; to be entrepreneurs. It’s possible, of course, to figure it all out as you go, but I feel it would have been really advantageous to have proactively given myself an understanding of the basics.
Rejection is part of every artist’s journey and it makes us stronger.
Don’t let it be the final word.
More about Lauren
Another thing I started doing this year that has had an immensely positive impact on my life is volunteering. Once a week I volunteer at the hospital near my house and it has made such a difference to be directly helping people, fulfilling the small amount of socializing I need from week to week, and to be involved in a purpose bigger than myself. As part of my volunteering, I also make small watercolor paintings of flowers for patients who are unable to have any live plants or flowers in their hospital rooms. I call the program "Paintings for Patients" and I can't wait to see where the opportunity takes me.
You can learn more about my Star Castle Spotlight series and apply to be featured here.
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