If you haven't noticed already I like to brag about my friends. I guess you could call it 'brag blogging' or BLAgging... if you were so inclined. I am blessed to be surrounded with talented, creative people and lately I have been feeling a tinge of guilt for hoarding these artists to myself. Artwork is such an important element in a home but many people just don't have the resources to find a painting that means something to them. You can walk through galleries all day long, spotting beautiful artwork here and there, but alot of times the story behind them is missing. In hopes that I can help provide a story I've decided it is time to unlock my secret resources and try to introduce one artist every month on the blog.
This is not an advertisement or a ploy to make money. I don't want to sell my friends, I simply want to share them with you.
I've been preparing this post for a while now- with the help of Lollie- because I've been really excited about this particular introduction. I apologize if it's a little lengthy but I've had trouble cutting it short!
So, without further ado, I'd like you to introduce you to a lovely artist. This girl is one of my closest friends who carries an innate gift of creativity and style- Laura Roebuck. (also known as Lollie)
(I know, she's hard to look at....my eyes!!)
I met her at UGA and we've been besties ever since. She now lives in Oxford, Mississippi with her hubby who's finishing up law school. She's painting and doing some other creative stuff- I could go on and on about how lovely and artistic Lollie is but I decided to do a little Q&A so you could figure that out yourself. (From here on out I'm in blue) (to get the full effect of some of these pieces, double click on them to enlarge)
What is your favorite
luxury in life?
Lollie: My first thought is good food. It gratifies your senses. It looks beautiful, it tastes good, and the experience
creates an avenue for quality time with people. Thus, leading to my second
answer, which would be the relationships that I have been given.
<the small watercolors above are in her etsy shop! click here for more>
Who has inspired your
artistic style?
My first love, like so many, was Van Gogh. Then
came Gustav Klimt’s beautiful figures, Toulous Lautrec’s quirky night scenes
and beautiful, acidic colors, and
the expressionist form of Egon Schiele’s lines. There is also, of course, Degas
and Monet for the way that they apply paint and use color, as well as much of
Piet Mondrian’s work. This list
goes on….
I have to insert here that when Laura first started painting classes in college she'd come home with these HUGE paintings that were absolutely stunning!! This water tower in particular was one of her firsts (which is taller than me)... You should have seen our jaws hit the floor when she brought it home from 'art class' :)
She came home soon after with yet another life-size painting of her boyfriend (now husband) that is amazing in person.. and charming.
Who would you most
like to collaborate with on a project?
I would be thrilled to learn a thing or two from
any of the above masters, but as far as today goes, I love to work with
individuals. It is exciting for me to work for someone on a commission to put
in their new home or to memorialize a past moment or even give as a gift to
someone they love. Tailoring a painting to each person’s needs and wants keeps
the process fresh. Every one is different, and so each painting brings new
ideas, different inspirations, and learning. And the best part about it is that it becomes very personal
to the individual that I’m working with and myself, which is really gratifying.
What books are
currently on your bedside table?
I have a stack of books beside my bed that I just
ordered and are on my “to read”
list. There is “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle,” “Catch a Fire” a biography of Bob
Marley, and “Masterpieces of Ancient Jewelry”- a beautiful book on another love
of mine, metalwork. On top of
those, is a rotating copy of one in the series of “The Lord of the Rings”
trilogy. I’m a nerd, and I will never get enough of those books. Then, there’s
a book I most recently read, “Same Kind of Different as Me”-so good, and
finally, “The Book of the Dunn Cow”- one of my most favorite books. It sits
there, because I love the cover and the story is so dear to me... I told you it
was a stack. (Wow. Way to make me feel like a slacker!!)
What inspires your
creativity and designs?
I love scientific illustration and botanical
prints. Much of my work is based on the study of a singular object. So I flip through books, magazines,
and photographs to find curiosities that I think will translate well
through paint always feeds me when I am in a rut. I love to find and photograph
landscapes, as anything flora or fauna* will usually end up in my work. When I
am beginning a new painting, I will look through the books I have on my friends
Egon, Vincent, Gustav, etcetera and will find inspiration for color palette,
composition, and technique. (*You used the term 'fauna' in this paragraph... Lord of the Rings Nerd Alert!! :)
Here are some 'bug prints' she's been working on recently:
Wouldn't a group of these look great in a kid's room? Or any room for that matter.
What is your most
prized possession?
My wedding band and engagement ring.
Her husband had it made based on her favorite leaf- the gingko leaf. So pretty, SO laura.
What are the things
life you cannot live without?
I can’t live without Jed, my most wonderful hubby
and best friend. Of course, I can’t live without my family or friends-this
includes you lovely! (thanks :)Then there’s the vitals such as mechanical pencils,
cereal, a good paint brush, makeup- think about it- I get to paint on my face,
bath tubs, the South- I could never leave for too long, farmer’s markets, old
things, Tim Keller, windows, books, a good movie, potted plants, coffee!, jewelry, magazines, slow meals with people
that I love, and my kitties-Lucy and Prudence.
(this is not one of her kitties, it's actually a goat..? Whatever, it seemed fitting.)
just like PAINT, a little bit of lollie goes a long way... for example, the piece above is in the background of this photo:
(told you she does life-size!)
Not all the time though. For example, this little painting...
in a setting:
I think it would look good propped up against a kitchen backsplash... Instant color that you can enjoy every day. Another one that's the same size:
What outfit would you
wear to your art show?
*I have to insert here that Laura is by far my most fashion-forward friend I've ever had. She is always ahead of the trends... I remember when she first walked around in Uggs. We were all thinking 'what the h*ll is she wearing?!" Anyway, all that to say- I asked her to put together an outfit for us:
I am lovin’ this gorgeous jumper. (from here)
I think it is very regal, but I would
want to funk-tify it a little (of course!). So, I would add my short, vintage cowboy boots,
some chunky gold jewelry,
art show by lolliewroebuck featuring Anthropologie
layers of necklaces included my favorite feathered
piece,
this poppy red clutch, and- if it’s cold- this great scarf with some red
lipstick to boot!... nice.
Do you miss me?
Too much.
(I miss her, too.)
I feel much better now for sharing her with you. Isn't her work great?? Feel free to spread the love to your friends, your blog readers, whoever.
*Some of the paintings I included in this post are SOLD, some are not! If you fell in love with one that is sold- have no fear! She does commissions all the time and can create one specifically for YOU.
Email Laura for more information:
lolliewroebuck(at)gmail.com
For her website click here.
For her etsy shop click here.
