I learned of Laura Campbell when I selected a print of hers through vintageprintgallery.com. I instantly fell in love with the abstract piece (the first one below) as if just felt so perfect for our new green living room.     Laura’s body of work is diverse and I specially love some of her mixed media!  Let’s get to know more about Laura Campbell…   Tell me a bit about your journey, were you always an artist? I was always a dreamer and maker of things. Nature has always been the root of my art and I think it’s because my childhood was spent outside. The backyard was a blank canvas for my daydreaming and the trees gave me a sense of security. While I played outside my father worked in his garage tinkering away on cars and various house projects. He was always working with his hands and it gave me a front row seat to what it was like to remain dedicated to your work and seeing value in the process of creating something. Rather than rushing to the finish line I can appreciate the slowness and tap into the meditative nature of the process in any project.   As designers we see an evolution in our style and aesthetic, I assume the same holds true for artists. What was your evolution like? How has it evolved? As artists we must adapt and change or the evolution cannot happen. I committed to art in college after taking a course on art therapy, and from both a clinical and spiritual standpoint, my eyes were opened up to the value of making art. Creating art is healing and revealing and I learn a little more about myself every time I try to create something new. I received classical training in oil painting as a foundation and went on to explore so many different materials/mediums from glass and clay to literal garbage (recycled art!). All of the exploration has led me back to what is most important and, for me, it has always been nature. Currently my artwork is inspired by colors and textures found in nature as well as animals, shapes, and sounds.   What is the message behind your art? What do you want people to take away or feel through your pieces?  Stimulated, curious, calm, connected to themselves, open to what they might not understand, hopeful, dreamy, and maybe…

Read More

I’m so excited to be launching our “Artist Spotlight” blog series, where we’ll be featuring two new artists each month. By now you probably know how much I love art. My father is a professional artist, so I know how important it is to support artists, as well as get to know a bit more about them and their craft.   Back in November, I went to a event hosted by Tara Gavin of On The Wall framing (a trade-only framing partner I work with regularly!), and she was featuring Lee Lessem‘s art. Her walls were filled with Lee’s art and they were absolutely stunning. Lee is not only talented, but also hilarious which made me love her even more. We were all lucky enough to leave with a limited edition print (the first one you see below). I’ve got a few places in mind for where this gorgeous piece will live in my home.    Let’s get to know Lee Lessem…   Tell me a bit about your journey, were you always an artist?  ALWAYS 🙂 My parents were fond of telling the story of my first “creation” – barely able to stand, I found my older sister’s crayons and covered our bedroom wall with my “art”.   As designers we see an evolution in our style and aesthetic, I assume the same holds true for artists. What was your evolution like? How has it evolved? Born on a farm in Africa and surrounded by the majesty of natural beauty, from as far back as I can remember, painting has been something I simply HAD TO DO. Painting has also been an excellent medium for me to test the tension between the real and the abstract – what we perceive and that which truly exists. I am, and have always been, an abstract painter – constantly excited by everything that we all see but most often don’t notice. There is a delicate balance between fluidity and structure, softness and vitality, transparency and solidity, mystery and clarity in my art. The only “evolution” would be in perfecting my technique – my subject matter (NATURE in all its glory) has never changed.   What is the message behind your art? What do you want people to take away or feel through your pieces?  I hope to inspire people who see my work to look more carefully at the world around them…

Read More