Lauren Curtis

Interview with artist Lauren Curtis —

1. Who are you and what do you do?
I’m Lauren Curtis and I’m a full-time freelance artist/illustrator and private art teacher & art marketing coach.

Xray Caged Bird’s Dream

2. Why art?
I’ve been an artist all my life! As a child I loved to draw and continued with art education thru college and beyond.

Mourner With Umbrella

3. What is your earliest memory of wanting to be an artist?
My father was my 1st art teacher and I was lucky enough to have great art teachers in Jr. High School & High School. I knew in 7th grade i wanted it to be my career.

Xray Inner Voice

4. What are your favorite subject(s) and media(s)?
I enjoy a wide variety of mediums, from watercolors, to oils, pen & ink, photography and collage. I’m most inspired by nature, Earth-centered spirituality & mythology and travel.

SHE painting

5. How do you work and approach your subject?
First I like to sketch out ideas for my art then begin to flesh it out in the medium that is the best fit for the subject. Depending on the piece, and my motivation, it can take me anywhere from hours to months to complete a piece. I like to research reference materials and images when needed as well as using my own photographs as well. I work in my home studio and am usually most productive late day to early evening.

Xray Micro Macro Tree

6. What are your favorite art work(s), artist(s)?
My all time favorite illustrator is Edward Gorey. I love his tongue-in-cheek Gothic, Victorian style. I also enjoy Tim Burton’s artwork for many of the same reasons. I’m a big fan of surrealists like René Magritte, Salvador Dalí, Giorgio de Chirico, Frida Khalo, and the metaphysical work of Alex Gray. I’m also fascinated by the very dark, surreal photography of Joel Peter Witkin.

Procession

7. What are the best responses you have had to your work?
When people can relate to my work and when they tell me it evokes emotion in them, that is a big compliment. And of course when someone likes it enough to purchase it, that is a great feeling that it has really connected with someone! Also, when a collector buys or commissions a piece as a gift for someone and they tell me how much the recipient loves it, that is a great feeling! I’ve even had a few collectors tell me the artwork brought them to tears…in a good way…which was very moving!

Xray Amphibiwing

8. What do you like about your work?
The eclectic qualities and how it respects and embraces nature and the power of the feminine aspects of spirituality.

Therapy

9. What advice would you give to other artists?
Keep at it! Create what makes you happy and what best expresses what you want to say. Be persistent and if you want to make art your career don’t be afraid to put your work out there. Experiment with new mediums and subjects that interest you.

All artwork © Lauren Curtis

Lauren Curtis

LINKS —

Websites:
http://laurencurtisart.weebly.com (Fine art, photography, updates)
http://www.LaurenCurtisArt.com (Commercial & fine art)
https://ello.co/laurencurtis (Illustration & fine art)
https://www.behance.net/LaurenCurtisArt (Graphic design & fine art)

Blog:  http://laurencurtis.wordpress.com 
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/LaurenCurtisArtTalonArt
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/laurencurtisart