Interview
Laura Robinson
Laura Robinson was born in Tamworth, Australia and currently lives in Wagga Wagga. She has been fascinated by colour for as long as she can remember, and how a certain colour can make you feel something like pure joy.
All throughout school, Laura would find herself focusing her doodles in her notebook, rather than actual studying. She read about Vincent Van Gogh and was fascinated by the way he saw the world. She tried to recreate his famous Starry Night painting every chance she got, and she desired to go back in time and see the sky that inspired that painting.
Although art is Laura’s main focus, she also loves interior design and how easily the way you arrange a room can set the tone.
When Laura is not creating artworks, she can be found anywhere there is an animal. Her strong love for animals led her to start her Animal Sitting business, in addition to pursuing her art career. Animals and art have always been her favourite things.
Could you tell us about your background and how you started your journey in the art world?
“Born in 1997 in rural Australia, I grew up very blessed with amazing wildlife and nature reserves around my home, providing endless amounts of inspiration. My teachers always told me that I was creative instead of smart. I was never able to sit still and study for long periods. After about 5 minutes, I would be drawing and doodling on my pages. If I didn’t understand a subject, I would just draw in my book instead of trying to understand.
I ventured into the art world when I was in schooling Year 7. Art was a compulsory subject and I found myself giving all my energy to the subject. It allowed me to be messy, and didn’t involve reading or memorising anything. Although I didn’t study art as a subject, I did study design and technology. My design and technology teacher would constantly tell me I could do anything I set my mind to. That really inspired me to continue with my creative dream.
After high school, I joined a major design school in Australia, which required me to move to the city. Soon after moving, my mental health began to take a turn for the worse and I found myself going back home. I struggled to find motivation and to find myself. I began to work on paint pouring, while also creating a Winnie the Pooh themed artwork for a friend’s nursery. I also created an astronaut themed artwork for a friend’s son. Now I continue to create paint pours and also creating pictures with a 3D effect.”
“Through my art, I have always aimed to create an environment that no matter the age of the viewer, they can appreciate the art. My art is very personal to me. I have always been a perfectionist, and allowing people to see artworks that I wasn’t 100% happy with was something I struggled with greatly. But now I am quite happy doing so.
I would describe my work as personal growth and the process that comes along with that.”
What inspires you most?
“My main inspiration comes from all the people I have met over the years, and those who I’m lucky enough to surround myself with now. The first time I remember feeling completely inspired to continue with my art was in high school, where my design and technology teacher was unbelievably supportive.
Recently, my inspiration comes from my 3 closest friends and my lovely doctor, who has been on my side since day one. Of course, I can’t leave out my parents and my brother who, from the time I told them I wanted to pursue art, constantly supported me and allowed me to be as creative as I wanted. They allowed me to make the biggest messes in the house when I was on a creative rampage.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“I love the way colours create their own world on the canvas, once poured and dried. My paint pours are based on how I am feeling. The colours I pick almost always represent my emotions. If I use lots of cool colours, I am having a downer of a day. If I use warm colours, it’s been a good day. My artworks that are created with the 3D aspect are based on whatever element of nature has inspired me. My goal is to create things that will interest people of all ages.”
“I believe an artist’s role in society is to bring some beauty and new perspective to the world. Every artist sees the world in a different way, and we each portray that in our own way, which in itself is beautiful.
Allowing people to see a glimpse of how we see the world through our artworks is truly a gift. The role of an artist is constantly evolving with new techniques being developed and new situations to create art out of. As long as I can show people the world the way I see it, I believe I have done my job as an artist.”
Which artists influence you most?
“I have always been influenced by two artists: Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet. Their impressionistic way of painting has always influenced me to create artwork that is unique, but also true to myself and the way I see the world. I have been blessed to see exhibitions of Van Gogh and Monet & Friends in Sydney, Australia. Seeing my favourite artworks projected onto the floor, walls and roof of a building is just breathtaking. I can’t describe it in any other way apart from feeling like I was home.”
What is your creative process like?
“My creative process is all over the show. Sometimes I am instantly inspired and can start a drawing within 5 minutes of sitting down. This normally happens with my paint pours. I find colours that I think work well together and create pretty much instantly.
Other times, I get a canvas out or I get a piece of paper and I stare at it until I find time has flown by. Sometimes it is days before I feel inspired. I like to go straight in and start off with small drawings. That way I can get my creativeness flowing and get my brain ready. I listen to music whilst creating any artwork, big or small. I put my headphones on and head down to my art studio to create.”
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