Check Out Laura Parker’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Parker.

Hi Laura, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Hello! My story is one of many twists and turns along the journey of life. I came into this world as a singer even as a child. I sang all day and all night.
I questioned the meaning of life around the age of five. Today I continue to ask the same questions.
I am fascinated with ancient world history, cultures, and the stories each of us bring to this world.

Since you are an arts driven publication I will focus on that part of my life journey..
I grew up as a performing artist; singer, songwriter, musician. This was before digital recording became a thing. We recorded live in the studio. That is my true love! I loved working in the studio. With the onset of digital recording I made a shift in the business of music. It was not in my nature to sit at a computer and do editing all day. I could see the handwriting on the wall. I made the decision to leave the recording industry as a performer and continue to compose songs.
It was a hard decision due to my love for studio recording and writing. I also wanted to start a family at this time. The arts require serious commitment and countless hours of work, often resulting in little income.
To be an artist of any medium requires this commitment and especially if one strives to be a full-time working artist.

I had to make a life/work change in order to accommodate the demands of starting a family and raising children. With the onset of digital I entered the study of mass communications with a focus on video production. My vision was to learn the art of making documentary films. At this time the onset of docudrama had become a huge hit in the entertainment area of network television (TV). My study included contrast and comparison of documentary and docudrama. The difference can vary widely.

Needless to say, life events can happen without warning. More changes were to come for me.

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?
Has my life been a smooth road? Absolutely not! I suppose I was born strong enough to rise above the challenges in my life.
The way I see it, we must follow our passions. The great author, Joseph Campbell, stated, “Follow your bliss”.
To truly enjoy this life one must be willing to take risks. I have taken risks in my lifetime in regard to career and artistic endeavors.
Some have soared and worked out. Some have tanked and taken a toll financially.
The thing is, if you do not try and get out of your comfort zone, how will you ever know if your dream(s) will fly?
Follow your passion(s). I do and have rarely regretted it.

I raised my daughters solo without a partner to assist. It is a harder way to go but we are all standing in an upright position today. They are strong women with adventurous goals and career paths. This fills my heart with gratitude and joy. I watch them grow into beautiful, strong women. They carry on our history, our story, and our ancestor’s journey.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am both a professional and a fine artist. I have practiced the art of Psychotherapy for 30 years to date as a licensed behavioral health provider. I love the human stories and the wonderful people I have been honored to watch heal along the way. As a visual fine artist/mixed media painter I have incorporated this in my practice of therapy.

I began the study of painting, drawing, and mixed media in 1999. I had always been drawn to the modern painters of New York City, the Expressionists. I knew one day I would become a contemporary artist before I started to learn.

Here I am 25 years later still experimenting with mixed media materials. I am entering as a beginner into textile and fiber arts at this time. I am fascinated with hand stitching and machine stitching on fabrics of all kinds. It is nice to be a beginner again. I enjoy learning. I enjoy exploring new mediums in art and music. I am slowly learning a Korean technique called Bojagi. It is a beautiful art form. I have found a teacher and master of this textile art form by the name of Youngmin Lee. She is based out of California and has her book on Bojagi scheduled to be released this September 2024.

I continue to work on paintings and collage and am now represented by Robert Kent Galleries out of Marietta, Georgia. (https://robertkentgalleries.com)

Any big plans?
I live each day, one day at a time. I focus on enjoying each moment and take in all the gratitude I can find. The world can sometimes be a harsh and cold kind of existence.
When I remember all that I am grateful for life looks brighter!

I look forward to continued study of textiles, fiber arts, and mixed media design. I am getting involved with professional colleagues who are working with animals and natural settings for mental health and wellness treatments.
It is a growing field as we work to break the stigma of mental illness and substance use disorders and diagnosis.
In a fractured world people need hope, help, direction, and assistance when trying to better their lives and the health of their families. To be of service to others is quite important to me. I am not invested in fame and fortune at this stage of my life. I am invested in living as an authentic and giving individual. The art, music, writing, working will all follow!