Meet Lauren deSerres | Mixed Media Fine Artist and Art Educator

I have wanted to be a visual artist and teacher of visual arts since I was in high school. I started to take my visual art career seriously when I discovered the School of the Arts in Winston Salem, NC during my junior year of high school. I decided to apply to NCSA’s high school visual arts program which was a very intimidating and competitive process. After the interview and the portfolio review, I was convinced that I wouldn’t be accepted and I think I cried all the way home. But some time later, I got an acceptance letter in the mail and I was over the moon. I enrolled during my senior year of high school and learned so much while I was there. It was small successes like these that really built my confidence in making art. That led me to want to learn more about art and to continue that throughout my life.

I create mixed media paintings that address the challenges that we face in life and come through the other side. My work is whimsical, but it deals with very real life experiences. I create my work using layers of painted paper, acrylic paint, graphite, and ink. This layered technique helps the viewer to look closely at the work, gradually unveiling hidden nuances and details, both in technique and in the stories behind the work.

I wasn’t always convinced that I could be a studio artist. There was a lot of negativity around the arts as a career path, like the myth that you can’t make enough money to support yourself, etc. I responded to this by investigating different career paths within the art world, particularly education. Eventually, though, I decided that I wanted to take the leap and start my own art business- I eventually wanted to be in charge of my schedule and my own path. So I launched my art business in 2017 with my partner, Walt.

Originally we were going to sell pottery that we made together. But the renovation of our garage got in the way of us pursuing a pottery business and I decided, in the meantime, that I would take up painting again while we finished the garage project. I was still teaching full–time, and I wanted a creative outlet. Well, the garage project is still not complete, but the good news is that we totally switched gears and I now create mixed media paintings which we sell at art festivals all over the country. Walt builds my frames, pilots the van, and oversees other parts of the business while I make and sell the work. I also have a couple of amazing students whom I teach in my home studio, so I’m able to work with young people to foster their love of art. This has been the most fulfilling career I’ve had and I’m looking forward to seeing how it grows and changes in the future.

I think the most important lesson I’ve learned along the way is that if you want to be a business owner that does something that you love- whether it’s art or some other pursuit- you have to be willing to treat it like a business. You’ve got to research and constantly grow if you want to succeed. Making money in a new field can come really slowly. Putting ego aside and being willing to adapt and change is critical.

Another lesson that I’ve learned is that people want to know you and your story as an artist. In our society, artists are storytellers and it’s through sharing our stories that we are able to help others develop empathy, compassion, and resilience.

My work and my story are about resilience and navigating life’s challenges. In each piece, I use animal symbolism to tell a story about coming through hard times. My work is about finding light and hope in the darkest places.