Meet Laurie Clements

Today we’d like to introduce you to Laurie Clements.

Hi laurie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I have been a creative all my life from constructing elaborate cardboard architecture to fancy stick people. After graduating from Columbus College of Art and Design, serving as Director of Admissions then teaching there and raising a family, I finally found the time to truly start digging into my own art. It was after a battle with breast cancer that shook my world and made me realize that I did not want to leave this world with “ old” paintings from my college days. That was the fuel almost 20 years ago!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I always admired the women artist that I knew who could somehow navigate growing children AND serving their art. I could not bifurcate my passion to serve both at the same time. Aside from that, I have been blessed with materials, time and space to run as hard as I can.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Although I can not recognize this, collectors tell me that they can spot my work a mile away! I can not see this and it does not relate to common painted subjects in my work. I believe in joy and beauty that surrounds us if you look for it and try to put aside all the ugliness that is creeping upon us these days. I believe this must be a common ingredient to most of my work. My work has energy and color in the application although the actual subject matter ( if there is one) may be without motion. I generally work very rapidly and frequently finish a painting in a day although everyone knows that it is not “ finished” until framed and hanging in someone else’s house away from my brushes! Painting is not a race but I sometimes feel LIKE a race horse when I start working. Subconsciously, my episode with breast cancer may have placed that urgency in working while all is good! I have been clean from that cancer since. I am proud that my work hangs in many houses across the nation in residences and commercial sites and that I have had many shows primarily through Hayley Gallery ( New Albany OH). In addition, I was part of the mural applications on buildings in downtown Columbus during the George Floyd protest. That experience has deep meaning to me and is a story on its own. The art community came together rapidly to place murals painted on 4×8 plywood boards that cover shop windows that has been shattered during the protests. This event is well documented if interested. Yes, I was a middle aged pasty white woman in a sea of young people pouring their hearts out with paint trying to express their anger, fear and hope for a world where these things should not happen. One friend, who was just concerned about my safety, told me I had no business participating but that was not the case. Another area that has my heart is a painting process that I do with others whether they are fellow artists or friends. On one large canvas, everyone has 15 minutes to paint. I generally direct the choice of paint colors that I hand to each person. This can go on for hours and the development that occurs has been fascinating! I especially enjoy the people that say “ I have no ability and can’t draw a stick figure!” People can paint over each other and have time to reflect between their turn. The most powerful experience was when a group of my childhood friends painted a large diptych and SO much of what had happened through our lives came out within the painting. I have a book in my head about this for sure!

We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Constant questioning and improvement based on my own view

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Laurieclements.com
• Instagram: @clements_laurie
• Facebook: @artistlaurieclements