i need to have this kitty in my house.

new print in the shop! :: your soothing rainbow friend

this friend is here to sooth you when you need soothing.

a new print available now in my etsy shop!

ipod / iphone cases + skins featuring this fella are also for sale in my society6 shop.

wishing you all a wonderful weekend!
x, laura

Protection // Inspiration Corporation | One Inspired Evening

(artwork by Jake Watling)

I recently made a painting for a charity event that takes place tomorrow night here in Chicago.  The organization is amazing -- they are called Inspiration Corporation, and they help to empower homeless people by providing meals and housing, and offering job training and support services.  They assist over 3,000 people a year.  You can find out more about them here.

Tomorrow night (Friday March 2) is their 20th annual fundraiser event, One Inspired Evening, which takes place from 6-10 pm at 1340 W Washington Blvd.  All artwork at the event will be available for silent auction.  Here is the piece I made!

Protection
11x14" gouache on wood

Protection detail

I'm so deeply happy to be involved with this organization and event.  If you'd like to come tomorrow to support them, tickets are available in advance by calling 773.878.0981 x221,  or by emailing Evan Cauble-Johnson .  They can also be purchased at the door.  Hope to see you there!

18 New Paintings for PLAY!

Here are the 18 new paintings I did for PLAY!, a group show opening tonight in Chicago at Believe Inn, 2043 N Winchester, with a collaborative installation by Chris Silva, Anthony Lewellen, Brian Steckel, David Cuesta, & John Heehan, and a bunch of paintings / drawings by myself, Chad Kouri, and Luke Ramsey.

Entrance

Jigglin'

I Was Changing Right In Front Of You

Knot

These Four Doggies

The Tipping Point

Inner Life

Belonging To Something (1)

Belonging To Something (2)

A Sort Of Strangeness Was Creeping In

Music Maker

A Tiny Visitor

Exposure (a)

Exposure (b)

Watching Them Go

Shell Cycles

The Mountains Keep Us Safe

The Mountains Keep Us Safe (detail)

Slide

Slide (detail)

Slide (detail)

If you can't make it down to the space, please feel free to contact them at 773.562.2270 for purchase information.
Thanks for looking!
love laura

PLAY!

I have 18 new original paintings hanging in PLAY!, a group show at Believe Inn in Chicago.  I'm honored to be showing work alongside such seriously talented dudes.  The show opens tomorrow (Friday) with a party from 6-10, so please stop by if you can and take a gander.

If you are out of town or unable to make it in, I'll be posting images of all of the new pieces here tomorrow, so please feel free to contact the gallery for purchase information if you're interested.  773.562.2270 is the number to call!

your pal, laura

Daily Candy Chicago

I was really happy when Daily Candy contacted me a few weeks ago for a chat about my notecards, with a focus on my Valentine's Day offerings.  I'm a big fan of their site & I always enjoy finding out about new restaurants & designers in their daily emails.  The feature is up on their site today -- you can check out the whole write-up here.

Thank you so much for the love, Daily Candy!  

...and a happy love day to all of the lovers out there.  I'm often not completely sure of what we're doing here on this planet, but I'm totally clear that one of our tasks as humans is to do our best to be authentic  and to love each other, and to learn to love ourselves.

Orange Walls Mural Project // 2045 W Concord Place, Chicago // 2011

I painted a mural last October here in Chicago for the Orange Walls Mural Project sponsored by the Wicker Park / Bucktown chamber of commerce.  It's 23 feet x 8 feet, and located at 2045 W Concord Place, just off of Milwaukee Ave.   You can view it from the street, or from the southbound blue line el train, just north of the Damen stop.

Here are some photos........

I really love painting murals.  It's seriously challenging and often physically painful, but also strangely comfortable.  Maybe it's because the first serious thing I ever really painted (professionally speaking) was a 40+-foot French renaissance painting for the backdrop of a play.  I would sit on the floor of the theatre at 2 am, by myself, working, so daunted & frustrated...I'd maybe even have a cry or two... but it was incredibly fulfilling when it was finally done and actually worked.

I started focusing on developing my own work after my father passed away in an effort to distract myself from the sadness, to make myself feel better.  Then after a bit, it started to feel really good to try and make things that might help other people feel good, too.  So that kind of became a quiet goal with my work. This mural is visible from the southbound blue line el train....downtown-bound.. full of people headed to work or appointments:: serious, caught up in thoughts (like we all can be, so often)... My hope with the mural is simply that it gives someone a moment of lightness in their day and maybe a feeling of connection or openness to the people around them.

Ok, that's enough personal stuff.  I rarely do that on my blog, and will surely feel a bit uncomfortable after posting this.  Stop by and see the mural if you can!  I hope it makes you feel silly or smiley or big in the heart or something really warm and good like that.

love, laura