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Meet Laura McGowan

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

Thanks for sharing your story with us Laura. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I grew up in Saratoga, CA and moved to Boulder in 2006 to attend the University of Colorado. In 2012, I graduated with BA in Arts and Sciences with a triple major in English, Spanish, and Sociology. A year after graduating, I began working at Imagine! C.O.R.E/Labor Source as a direct care professional and art teacher for adults with developmental, physical and cognitive disabilities (2013-today).

Art has always been a part of my soul, but I had not painted or taken it seriously until after college. Looking back, I loved art as a kid and wanted to be a cartoonist, but along the way I became so focused on academics that I never developed my passion further. My first paintings were not created until 2013, and it was due to a sudden loss of vision in both eyes from corneal ulcers. During this time, I could not be exposed to light, my eyes would barely open, and I went to doctors every day for three weeks. Needless to say, it was a terrifying experience, but one that put my life into perspective. Being unable to focus on the objective world granted me an indescribable amount of time to dream and imagine. I sat in darkness for weeks on end wishing I could remember what everything looked like, and that I had made more art when I had the chance to. I do have permanent damage in one eye- scarring over my cornea, and then cataracts in both eyes due to large amounts of steroids to get my vision back- but my other eye is just fine and I can drive and do all the things I was told I may never be able to again. It is a struggle sometimes, but at the end of the day, this experience was a silver lining in my life. It pushed me to see that I want to work with people with differing abilities and re-connect with my passion for art.

I still have yet to take an art class or even read up on a technique quite honestly. I just love the process of making art and learning through trial and error. Having the privilege to teach art for adults of all abilities has opened my heart and expanded my creativity as well. The clients we serve at Imagine! are my biggest inspiration, personally and artistically.

All of my work is 100% handmade in my hometown of Boulder, CO or created live at events all over the country. The primary medium I use is acrylic but many of my paintings are multimedia. I often add sensory elements so that even if you can’t see the painting, you can experience it through touch. I aim to create art that is accessible for all. 🙂

Has it been a smooth road?
It has been quite difficult…. I never realized in pursuing artwork just how much work being an artist is aside from the creative process. It’s an obscene amount of work to run an LLC by myself – being my own coordinator and manager of events, staying on top of apparel companies and businesses via: inventory/running artwork back and forth/annual contracts/royalties/promotion, unloading and loading equipment, as well as travel, tax forms, custom work, promotion, marketing… while working another job. At the same time, I get to do something I love and have people appreciate it; making it worth it all. Overall, my biggest struggle has been my Meditating Rafiki artwork, which has been stolen by millions of individuals world-wide. I created this painting in 2014 and leased it to Electrothreads for use on apparel in 2016. Within one year, this was being reproduced by over 21 countries and tens of thousands of US companies. Although I do have a copyright, I have been unable to find a copyright lawyer that will work with me pro-bono, something I hope to soon tackle. It’s been an emotional roller-coaster to see my art all over the world without my name by it, while others profit and take credit.

On the bright side of all this however, when I created Rafiki, I was a brand-new artist, unknown, and not being offered many opportunities before this image took flight. I think quite a lot of people would have never stopped to look at my art while I was live-painting the first year or two, had I not had a giant Rafiki tapestry there. So, as with my eye-sight, it’s been a blessing and a curse.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
I am the sole-owner and operator of Laura McGowan Art LLC. I sell original paintings, posters, canvas prints, dreamcatchers and create about two to three custom paintings a month. I live-painted at over 100 shows last year, as well as had my art in over a dozen businesses around the Denver area. I think I am best known for my color and detail, as well as animal/jungle imagery. I specialize in morphing images together to create a flow; all things are connected and I love finding that through the painting-process. I do not sketch out my images for the most part, everything happens randomly in the moment. I often say I can’t sleep when I have a good flow because I won’t be able to reach that exact mind-state and paint-vibe the next day. I never have any idea what my painting will really look like in the end, it for sure winds up a lot crazier than I could have ever attempted to sketch out.

I also make tons of “mistakes” – I will paint a frog, then go over it and move the frog somewhere else, endlessly until it feels right to me. This has allowed me to learn and grow as a painter and have patience with it. Some of my pieces have taken five years. Currently I am working on over 75 paintings for fun, and ten customs. I truly never get tired of creating…

I think what sets me apart from others is maybe my style? I have never studied art, and I think my lack of comparison to what art should look like or what others do, has allowed me to make a style that really is uniquely mine. A big part of my art is my multimedia, which most people cannot tell is even on there. I almost always have recycled projects added to paintings and do eclectic strange things that are out of the box (clay, feathers, beads, paper, acrylic pour, string, etc.). I have yet to see this method used in any way similar to my artwork!

I am most proud of my mural on the Hill in Boulder, at Taco Junky Tequila Bar. It remains my only chronological and historically accurate work, based on my final English paper from CU. This gigantic mural took me four months, created in the middle of the night during construction and renovation. This piece expresses the connection between the forerunners of the Beatnik Revolution (Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, etc.) and the Hippy Movement (Pink Floyd, Beatles, etc.) in promoting societal change and progression. The mural encompasses poetry, literature, art, music, protests, movements, individuals and groups who pushed for freedom of expression and change.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
ABSOLUTELY. Although I live in Boulder, almost ALL of my live-painting opportunities are in Denver’s music venues. As far as new painter recommendations – starting out, say ‘yes’ to all of the shows you are offered, even the little ones. I actually sold my most expensive painting selling prints at a restaurant with only three people there. You never know where you will meet the next person who wants to support you or connect you to someone with more opportunities. One thing to remember is that painters do not get paid, so expect if anything, to pay to vend your prints if you want to make income. While we do get free tickets – the only way to make an income off those shows is to bring your own set-up and hustle while you work. Friendly tip, always bring a drop cloth. Even if you won’t make a mess, it shows respect to the venue.

Pricing:

  • $15 Posters
  • $30 – $190 Canvas Prints
  • Original artwork varies. Approximately $150 – $2000

Contact Info:

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