Artist of the Month

May 2007

Lauren Vioers

Westlake, OH

Lauren was born on January 7, 1991 in Cleveland, Ohio. A self-taught artist, she began painting at the age of 13. During her short artistic career, Lauren has been recognized at the regional, state and national level. In 2006, Lauren was selected as a regional finalist in the Ohio Governor's Youth Art Competition from over 12,000 entries in the state of Ohio. She went on to win at the state level, receiving the Governor's Award of Excellence and had her artwork exhibited at the James A. Rhodes State Office Tower in Columbus, Ohio. Most recently, Lauren was selected to represent her high school as an entrant in the 2007 Scholastic Art Competition. Of the more than 100,000 submssions from throughout the United States, Lauren entered five paintings. Three of these were recognized at the regional level. Her painting, "Transparency", received the competition's highest honor, the Gold Key Award, and two other paintings received Honorable Mention Awards. Lauren's Regional Gold Key Award winner "Transparency" qualified for advancement to the National Scholastic Art Competition in New York City. There it won the highest recognition attainable, the National Gold Key Award (one of only 50 awarded in the United States). In June of 2007, Lauren will be traveling to New York City where she will be receiving her National Gold Key Medal at Carnagie Hall. Her artwork will be displayed and available for viewing at the Reeves Contemporary Gallery of Art in Manhattan.

TAL: How and when did you start creating art?

LV : How and when did you start creating art? The first time I realized that I had a passion for painting was when I was thirteen years old I had just been given a painting kit which initially got me started After that I began searching around the house for anything I could paint on I found a flat canvas in my basement and painted a Thomas Kinkade inspired landscape. Ever since that day, I have been painting nonstop.

TAL: What media and genres do you work in?

LV : I love to mess around and play with many different types of media, but my preference is to use acrylic paints. The genres of artwork I have produced over the past 3 years have evolved dramatically I began painting Thomas Kinkade inspired landscapes and quickly switched to a very abstract style because it gave me so much more freedom to be creative. The abstracts however, started out small and very freeform. Over the course of two years I experimented using larger canvasses evolved into the style I use today, I'm still always looking to change my style and use different media too see if I can push the envelope always a little further.

TAL: Who or what are your influences?

LV : Who or what are your influences? As a beginning artist, my first influence was Thomas Kinkade After several months of painting. I remember watching The Jane Pauley Show with my mom one day and seeing Alexandra Nechita showing her work. I had never seen a style of art such as hers and absolutely loved it. After that I began producing paintings that were much like her style and tried to find a technique of my own as I was doing it. After two years of making abstract paintings I have tried creating my own unique style that suits me.

TAL: What was your inspiration for ""?

LV : Transparency is one of my favorite pieces. Before I made it, I felt like I was in a painting rut where I was only producing works of the same technique. When I came up with the drawing for Transparency, I decided to go for a different look than the rest of my paintings. I wanted a more stained-glass affect to be projected with many layers and dimensions rather than a flat opaque look.

TAL: Describe your creative process.

LV : I tend to get my ideas for the subject matter of my work when I' m laying in bed at night, and then I draw them out in a notebook I keep. Ill usually make around 10 different sketches at a time and then pick my favorite one to work on. Painting is something I always will do at night because I seem to always be more energized and creative late in the evening. Most of my paintings can take around 3 weeks to a month to make, but long as I have my ipod on and some soda pop, I am happy to take the time.

TAL: What are you working on currently?

LV : I am currently working on a piece that is made up of three separate canvases called Messenger. This work was inspired just by the happiness and contentment I feel in my life right now

TAL: What are your near/long term goals as an artist?

LV : My short term goals are to continue to improve and learn as many different forms of art as I can, such as ceramics, sculpture and glassblowing. As for long term goals, I am not quite sure at the moment being only a Sophomore in high school, but I am hoping to take my art as far as I can possibly can and hope to make an impression on the art world.

TAL: Where can people view/purchase your work?

LV : My artwork can be seen on my website http://www.starving-artists.net/index.htm?~voiers.htm