Thursday, 12 April 2012
Wednesday, 4 April 2012
Monday, 2 April 2012
Lauren Spencer King
I first came across Lauren Spencer King's work when I
discovered her blog a
while back. I was completely blown away by her beautiful watercolours ,
photography and her idyllic subject matter.
The lovely Lauren answered some of my questions ......♡
How do you like to describe what you do?
I am an artist. I combine my watercolors with cut glass, to make geometric
objects that hang on the wall or sit on the floor.
As a "day job" I also have a small business, Spencer Studio, where I create hand drawn
elements for special projects or events. I mostly do a lot of stuff for
Weddings.
You grew up in the Midwest (Belleville IL) does this still
feel like home to you?
Yes! This will always be my home. Growing up in a very
small town, with a house set in the woods, really shaped my idea of what home
means, and the kind of home I want for myself, and my future family. As a kid I
spent time playing in the woods, swimming at our lake house in the summer, and
sledding down our hill when it snowed. Because it was such a small town, there
wasn't a lot to do, so we had to create our own fun. I spent a lot of time with
my mum making art projects at the kitchen table. It really taught me that I can
create anything and everything. It's funny now living in LA, I feel like I can
always spot a person from the Midwest. It's not always obvious to everyone, but
I feel like we are kindred spirits. Midwest people always seem to be very kind,
and grounded. I am very grateful for the environment I grew up in.
What has been your most rewarding project so far?
With out a question, it's my Graduate Thesis Show. During
my first term in Grad School my mum passed away. I took the next term off. And
when I came back and started working in the studio again I realized my focus
had totally changed. What I was wanting to create was so new to me, and it was
coming from a totally new place. It was so deep and personal and raw that I
found it really challenging to talk about in a setting that was so academic and
where discussions were so heavily based in theory. For a few terms I really
struggled with this. And as I was thinking about my thesis show I had this
realization, that it was the last chance I was going to get in school to speak
my mind and share my voice, and I just went for it. I felt like I risked a lot
putting that work out there. Some people didn't get it, and I finally stopped
caring about that. But, some were really supportive and it was really
liberating and interesting to have conversations about the intensity and
mystery of death, and the complicated feelings of grief. I think there is such
beauty and pleasure in those things. And that was what I really wanted to
share. And I feel like I did.
Do you have any hobbies or collect things?
Minerals, gemstones, crystals! In the last few years I
have become an avid collector! I love learning about them, I even go to the
awesomely dorky Mineral and Fossil shows in the middle of nowhere. But, it is
so fun! And I end up learning a lot from the people who are there. The shapes
and colors really inspire me in my work.
You seem to be drawn to watercolour what do you enjoy
about this medium?
I just love watercolor! I took a set with me about ten
years ago when I went to Europe one summer, and I did a series of small
watercolors of all the hotels rooms I stayed in. And the medium just kind of
stuck with me ever since. In the beginning I loved them because no one else in
school was using them, and I felt like I really wanted to revive watercolor and
rescue it from being the medium for "Sunday Painters". I wanted to
make it serious. I laugh about that now. But once I started making the work I
am now, it really started to make sense. Light reflects through watercolor just
like it does with gemstones, and glass. Light moves through it. And the pigment
and colors just can't get more brilliant!
You live in LA do you find that this creates a certain element
to your work?
Not really. But I will say that living in LA you have a
lot of resources. Because the entertainment
industry is here there are so many places to get any kind of material you could
want, or get anything made you could dream up. Also, not that this influences
my work, but it fascinates me... the quality of light in LA. It is really
particular, and beautiful.
Thank you Lauren , you are a true artist ! ♡
To find more of Lauren's work
please check out
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