Member since Sunday 18th May, 2014
Growing up in the Sussex countryside, I have always had a deep connection and fascination with the natural world, and animals in all their forms, both domestic and wild. Animals are a great source of inspiration. They can also provide comfort and friendship, particularly in the case of domestic animals; this is something I want to capture in my work and attempt to relate to the viewer of the piece. I largely use Pastels, Acrylics and Oil Paints, constantly working and experimenting within these mediums to push my work further.
As a child I took to drawing and painting at an early age. Encouraged by my family and teachers, I have always wanted to take my skills to the next level and find new ways to express my ideas through painting and drawing.
Studying art at both GCSE and A level, I learnt the basics in acrylics and oils while still at school, before embarking on a foundation course at Hastings College of Arts and Technology, where I gained a greater insight into a broader means of self-expression. Taken with the idea of conveying a concept within an image, I decided to focus particularly on Illustration, and I was accepted to The University College for the Creative arts at Maidstone in 2005. After graduating with a BA Hons in Illustration I realised my true passion was really for painting, and creating compositions that could greater express my own interests.
I have since spent several years working on my painting, always looking to find ways to improve my skills through reading and learning from the experiences of others. I did this alongside travelling and seeing the world, which has fuelled my artwork. In 2010 I travelled to Australia, and spent the next 2 years exploring and experiencing different ways of living, from cattle stations in the outback to diving schools in Indonesia. Returning in 2012, I then decided to move to Ireland, and spent the next 2 years living and working in the stunning South West scenery of County Kerry.
Returning from Ireland, I wanted to make a concerted effort to focus fully on my artwork, and applied for a 3 month residency at Ateliers Fourwinds in the South of France, which was a wonderful opportunity to regain my focus for painting in a beautiful and creative environment.
I am currently fortunate enough to have found a home in East Cornwall, where I have a studio and am collecting my thoughts from the experiences of travelling to put back into my work. With each piece I try to capture a moment, create a story; find an expression to create a connection between the subject and the viewer. In my current work I am attempting to portray the profound impact animals can have on us, as well as exposing the hidden world of their interactions within their own communities. Overall, I hope to enhance our understanding of their individual natures and personalities.
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Laura Jefferson Fine Art
