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Conversations with the Inspiring Laura Reilly

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

Laura, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’ve been a professional painter, focusing on regional landscapes for many years. I moved to Colorado in the early 80’s after falling in love with the mountains, big skies and vibrant colors.

Since I was a child, I’ve always responded to the world around me in a visual way, drawing and painting and writing. Although as a child, I never met a working, living professional artist, I feel I have always been an artist – just born that way I guess!

I began showing my paintings professionally shortly after my move to Colorado. The community responded with love and encouragement and financial support, and I have continued to show and sell both large and small paintings to private collectors and corporations throughout the country. My work is in museum collections corporate collections and private homes throughout the world.

My work continues to evolve, with new inspiration and ideas constantly appearing to me, and I continue to be enthralled by the beauty of the region.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The road has been full of interesting twists and turns, some rough spots, but more joy and delight than anything else.

When I look back, I would say most of my struggles have been internal – fear, lack of confidence, worries about whether the work is meeting the standards I’ve set for myself, and of course, the entrepreneur’s constant concern about cash flow. The business side of my life as an artist is always changing too, which requires me to update
my skills regularly, but also helps me and my painting stay relevant and vital to the community I serve with my art.

As an artist with quite a bit of experience, I realize these things I’ve worried over and struggled with are just the companions of a rich and self-directed life, and not exclusive to the life of any artist. The challenges come with the territory.

The practical advice I have for anyone starting this journey is to keep your art skills sharp, and your business skills too. Look to the future, learn new things from artists and business people you admire, take in a lot of info and advice and then pick what works best for you. Follow your heart, be smart, and always live below your means – save money! and don’t let anyone or the culture tell you that you can’t have an artist’s life – if you want it, you will find the way. Many artists have done so throughout human history.

What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
My art, currently, is about vibrant color and rich texture, expressing the liveliness of the natural world we share.

Everything I paint is from my own direct experience of the living landscape, so it is primarily focused on Colorado.
I am known for vibrant color and rich textures, and I paint large statement landscapes and small intimate gems.

I am very proud of my achievements, including many corporate and private commissioned paintings and my tenure as Artist In Residence at Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas. I am also very pleased that my work is collected and treasured by many, many private individuals throughout the world, and that so many individuals treasure my paintings and want to live with them.

I think what sets me apart is the lively quality of my paintings, my technique and my unending quest to find the best way to express what I see and feel of the world around us.

Do you have a lesson or advice you’d like to share with young women just starting out?
Do your own research, follow your heart, be smart about the business side, and reach out and speak to your community with your art and your words. Don’t limit your interactions to just the community of artists – if you believe art has value to enrich and transform lives and the world, let us know about it! Art is for everyone – speak to everyone, not just your fellow artists.

Pricing:

  • I sincerely believe that art has the power to transform and enrich every life and that my paintings are for everyone. To serve that goal, my original paintings start at just $100, available on my website, and so that just about everyone who wants one can live with one of my original creations. My prices currently are $100 – $4800

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                                                    Image Credit:
Laura Reilly, Tara Patty

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