The Laurie Story
Hello there, thanks for taking the time to get to know a little about my world of painting!
My creativity was born at my grandmothers house in my home town of Toronto, Canada, here is my story…
After working in graphics/illustration, I moved to Sydney, Australia and slowly made the move to a full time painter. My art practise includes working with gouache, oils, oil pastels, encaustic wax and fabric. I am always evolving and expressing my surroundings as they change. The more I travel – the more I enjoy outdoor sketching and painting landscapes and nature. However, my favourite thing to paint is always people, especially women.
My childhood summers were spent at my grandmother’s, a talented dressmaker with a basement studio. This is where my fascination with fashion and textiles began. I think of my artworks as romantic, modern-vintage figurative paintings. Painting is my way to escape into another place and time. It seems I have come full circle, back to the joy I found in my grandmothers studio. I would happily spend hours going through drawers discovering haberdashery and fabrics while my grandmother sewed. She would unfurl huge rolls of paper onto the floor for me to draw on. The walls decorated with fashion illustrations from the 1920’s to 1940’s drawn by her sister started my delight in nostalgic imagery.
Those happy memories, and a love of people, pattern, textiles, fashion and harmonious colour are the core of my works and as much as my grandmothers story as my own.
For full CV and list of past exhibitions/awards etc go to Exhibition/BIO page
CONTACT DETAILS
To purchase a painting or to book into my art classes (in Mona Vale) please see the contact info below:
Viewing of collections can be arranged at my private studio at Creative Space in North Curl Curl by appointment.
Select art works showing at Art Gallery on Palm Beach: instagram:artgalleryonpalmbeach
Email: lauriemckern@gmail.com
Phone: 0404 773 866
Instagram: lauriemckern
Bluethumb: laurie-mckern
YouTube: Laurie McKern Art Teacher