WiseDesignz: Featured Artist for July 2011: Laurie Crawford

This month at WiseDesignz we have local pastel artist Laurie Crawford. Her work in soft pastel is just lovely. I have always been a big fan of loose painterly pastels. In particularly landscapes! Her show this month is "Travel Escapes": work done Plein Air from her travels to Europe as well as here at home in the Pacific North West. I hope if you are local you have the opportunity to stop in the gallery to see her show in person. Her Artist reception is Saturday, July 16th from 4pm-7pm during the Everett Art Walk. You can come meet the artist and enjoy the sensory delight that is a travel escape!

Laurie Crawford

“Travel Escapes”

It is easy to love painting in the Northwest. We have the deepest, richest values of color with surprise lighting at every turn. When the rain stops, run outside into neighbor's gardens with a pack of supplies and paint plants capes. When the rain starts, try painting the scene another way in the studio.

Lifelong educational creative experiences in teaching for the Everett School District and Everett Community College (1974-2000) led me to this point in my life when I can pursue pastel painting with a passion. After drawing little houses, animals, trees, or flowers for school children to stimulate their own images, I now get to drive around and find cityscapes in Everett and beyond. Plein air, outdoor painting with other painter, in France ('05), Italy & Greece ('08), Cornwall, England (‘10), Tahuya/Sequim, WA ('04-'08) or Lopez Island ('07), Plein Air Painter’s US Open on Whidbey Island (‘10), all give painting color and light a new challenge.

Being a member of Northwest Pastel Society makes connecting with other artists a year round opportunity. By participating in local art workshops, Artist’s Way and writing groups, I keep my creativity flowing through many channels. Being accepted into juried exhibitions and shows like Mukilteo Lighthouse Festival ('06- First Place Pastel '08), AAUW Invitational Art for Education Show (‘08-’11), Arts of the Terrace (‘08), Sequim Arts ('07), Puget Sound Bird Fest ('07) and International (‘06) & National Pastel Society shows ('06-'11), extends my vision. Everett Public Library ('07-08), Lyussy Hyder Gallery ('06), Everett Historic Home Tour gallery Show (‘08), ICOS Biologicals, Bothell, WA, Lassen House, Red Bluff, CA, Edward Jones Investments, Snohomish, WA ('10,'11) and tea rooms & coffee houses ('06-'11) provide me with year round joy in showing my art. I contribute my poster (Assistance League ‘09) & pastel pieces to local church and charity fundraisers (‘06-’11) for local art to make a difference in our community.

~Laurie Crawford