Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Shull.
Laura, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I remember trying to draw my classmate’s amazing hairstyle as she sat in front of me in 1st grade. I pulled out all the stops… pencil, crayon, maybe even a Mr. Sketch scented marker or two. Unfortunately, when she turned around and saw what I had been working on she was less than impressed that some weirdo had been carefully mapping out her every hair follicle. Nevertheless, I continued to stay curious and draw as often as I could.
When I got a little older, I really got into drawing faces from magazines and trying to copy the anatomy I saw in this Erté book I begged my parents to buy me from the book store. I’ve always been fascinated by people so it was natural for me to pursue art that focuses on the figure and portraiture. The challenge of trying to capture the vibrancy of a person on a flat piece of paper or canvas is endlessly exciting to me.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Overall, the road has been nicely paved. I’m very fortunate to have parents that encouraged my art making endeavors. My biggest hurdle has always been getting out of my own way. I have a tendency to be very self-critical, which can be counterproductive when you’re putting yourself and your personal work out there for the world to observe. It’s also been a bit tricky figuring out who my audience is and what niche my art fits into.
Please tell us more about your art.
I mostly do figurative oil paintings inspired by my love of food, fashion, and beautiful things. When I get an idea, I start to collect props from anywhere I can find them, piece together costumes from second-hand clothes, paint or build backdrops with furniture and fabric, and try to build a scene totally of my own invention. I love building the scenes from scratch and having the reference material in front of me to work from as it allows me to try to reach a more heightened level of naturalism.
My commission work started off as a few portraits here and there, mostly from photographs, but what has been most fulfilling are the custom pieces that are a collaboration between me and my client. Sometimes they will give me a concept, and I’ll design costumes, style hair and makeup, put together a set in my studio, and arrange the lighting. I really love creating my own universe to work from and creating a space for a person to become fully immersed in character.
Where do you see your industry going over the next 5-10 years? Any big shifts, changes, trends, etc?
In the past it felt like you needed to be invited into some elite circle to really have your work seen, but with the internet being accessible to so many people, creators can find an audience if they persistently put themselves out there.
Since so many artists have online presences, everyone has the ability to become a collector or patron of the arts. It’s not as intimidating now to buy directly from artists. I see people gravitating toward handmade versus mass-produced, so hopefully that desire to have one-of-a-kind products will translate into people wanting to have original art in their homes and businesses.
As far as visual trends, I’m happy to see a renewed appreciation for realism and more classically rendered figurative art. I was told by a college professor, rather dismissively, that female-centric art is cliché, but I think there is, and has always been, a hunger for work that speaks to the female experience. It is my hope that in the future we get to hear from more and more voices who might have otherwise been overlooked or ignored.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.laurashull.com
- Email: info@laurashull.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurashull/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurashullart/
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