Today we’d like to introduce you to Laurie Moore.
Hi Laurie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I have always had an artistic flair, though I did not always hold it with the reverence I now have for my abilities. I don’t want to sound full of myself when I say it always came easily to me, but I could tell it came easier than it seemed to come to others. In my younger years, I think I largely took my aptitude for granted and allowed myself to be dissuaded by others (albeit well-meaning) from pursuing an art career.
I seem to have taken the long way around only to end up back at the beginning again—with my art. I do not regret my journey, though, because it directly contributed to my ability to view the world around me through the colorful lenses of my life’s experiences.
I grew up in a rural town on the outskirts of Waco, Texas. I attended a small-town school—the same school my whole life. In 2018, with fewer than 100 peers in my graduating class, I shared the stage with people I had gone to kindergarten with.
I moved out of my parents’ house at 17 while still in high school and enrolled in college that fall with the intent to become an art teacher. I viewed this as a “real” job that was at least art-adjacent enough to satisfy me.
Before the fall semester had even concluded, however, I changed course and enlisted in the U.S. Navy as an IT. After four years of active duty, I had traveled the world a bit and gotten that out of my system. I began working briefly as a tattoo artist in Texas before circumstances led to my family moving to my husband’s home state of Indiana. Residual anxiety from growing up in poverty was a motivating factor in pursuing my Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Fast forward to 2020, and I was furloughed from my work in the OR as a perioperative nurse. This shutdown was transformative for me because it gave me space and time to pick up my brush again after not painting for years.
I found that the more art I made, the more art I wanted to continue making. As if magnetically drawn to my easel, I would daydream about returning to it whenever I was away. Before the birth of my third child, I left my nursing career. Money aside, I can’t imagine choosing anything over what I am doing now.
I have come a long way in understanding myself. There is a certain amount of “fitting in” that was never meant for me. As I become more and more disillusioned with the world we find ourselves in, I have begun to find comfort in being different from the majority. Traits that were formerly barriers between myself and mediocre goals have now become outright assets in my specialized field. When I create, I feel like I am fulfilling my life’s purpose. I no longer feel like an ill-fitting puzzle piece and can hold a higher respect for myself.
I consider myself to be a creative genius and a bit of a savant. While that might sound pompous, I say it with full awareness of my lifelong struggles in other areas—so trust that this gift does not come without its costs. I feel that my brain is more connected in some ways and less connected in others. For example, I struggle with names and seem to have true time blindness. I cannot sense the passing of time or keep to an itinerary without massive effort on my part coupled with external accommodating tools. I have yet to find a way to consistently succeed with time and names. Since the majority of people are not this way, they often attach meaning to conduct that relies on these abilities. Unfortunately, this usually leaves others feeling disrespected and me feeling flustered and embarrassed.
On the flip side, anything creativity-related I retain like a sponge, and I can remember a face I met once and recall the details of our conversation even years later. I have an intuitive sense for ratios aligning with the Fibonacci sequence (also known as the golden ratio). I was unaware of this until I measured my previous works with a golden-ratio scale divider. Another perk of this unusual brain is a slight synesthetic ability, allowing me to sort of “hear” what my eyes see. If the shoe were on the other foot, wouldn’t it seem ridiculous to assume everybody possessed artistic abilities like mine and impose harsh consequences if they were unable to make paintings like mine?
Being a self-represented artist allows me to spare myself a modicum of the ableism I have endured my whole life. Fortunately for me, when I introduce myself as an artist, people have preconceived ideas of artists that actually benefit me in regard to receiving grace for my differences.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Although certain things have come more easily to me than they might for others, my skillset has been hard-earned. As I mentioned earlier, I chose to pursue a science degree instead of an art one. While that decision was practical in terms of financial stability, it also allowed a rather intense case of impostor syndrome to take root for years. Driven by the anxiety that I didn’t know enough to even recognize what I was missing, I devoured book after book on artistic methods, techniques, and materials.
Eventually, I reached a point where most books required me to sift through pages of familiar material just to uncover a small fragment of new insight to add to my growing knowledge. Over time, I accumulated such a breadth of information that I now possess more than a passing familiarity with many art-related disciplines beyond painting. In fact, I’ve come to believe I would have been hard-pressed to find a collegiate program in the United States that could have taught me what I ultimately taught myself.
I have always been self-taught. While that path can feel daunting at first, one thought kept me flexible: everything there is to know was, at some point, knowledge someone had to discover on their own. Teaching myself also freed me from rigid adherence to arbitrary rules. Like mathematics, art allows for a multitude of valid paths to a successful result. The art world certainly has its share of gatekeepers, but I do not consider myself among them. I am scrappy by nature and willing to experiment relentlessly in pursuit of stronger results achieved more efficiently.
With experience, I’ve learned to tune out most naysayers—especially when I see limitations in the very work they champion. Still, I can’t ignore every voice. There are artists I deeply respect whose well-intentioned advice I sometimes choose not to follow, yet their words can linger and momentarily disrupt my creative flow. I’m only human.
One of the most tangible challenges I face is that, as a self-represented artist, I must wear every hat required to run a small business—and I’m not equally skilled at all of them. I dislike self-promotion on social media, avoid phone calls whenever possible, and struggle to stay organized amid the constant digital noise of modern life. It can be overwhelming and exhausting. Still, I have a plan to address these challenges—more on that soon.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My work centers on whatever I find visually compelling. I have a somewhat unconventional attention span that allows me to fully immerse myself in whatever captures my interest—and that enthusiasm often translates into creations that others find equally engaging. I have always had a natural talent for capturing a faithful likeness in portraiture, so if I had to name a specialty, that would likely be it. However, I don’t limit myself exclusively to portraits, as my interests extend far beyond figurative work.
In fact, I named my business “Moore Than Portraits” to reflect that breadth, as well as to make my name more memorable through a playful bit of wordplay. When viewing my body of work as a whole, a few defining characteristics tend to stand out. I pay meticulous attention to my handling of light and color, I exercise strong control in blending, and I am highly intentional about where I choose to find—or lose—edges. For me, the process of creating is just as important as the final image itself.
My exacting attention to detail undoubtedly sets me apart. Even among a community of proudly self-described “weirdos,” I still manage to stand out—and I consider that a strength.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
If you—or someone you know—are in the market for a custom portrait, I would be honored to be considered. I have full confidence in my abilities, and I also recognize that many patrons searching for an artist with my skillset simply haven’t discovered my work yet. To address that, I’ve developed a strategic plan to overcome some of the logistical hurdles I’ve previously mentioned, including time management, social media presence, correspondence, and organization.
One step I’m taking is compiling professional portfolios to submit to established portrait agencies. I’m also interested in partnering with wedding photographers to offer live event painting—an exciting way for them to expand their services while providing clients with a truly unique and lasting keepsake.
Pricing:
- Custom Oil Portraits (Stretched Canvas): Starting at $2,000 for a single head-and-shoulders portrait (16×20 in.). Pricing increases based on size, complexity, and client vision.
- Charcoal or Graphite Drawings: Quoted on a case-by-case basis, typically starting in the hundreds.
- Live Wedding Painting: Begins at approximately $3,000, determined after an individualized consultation that considers event details and requirements.
- Additional Costs: Travel, framing, and shipping are quoted separately when applicable.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://moorethanportraits.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lrm_artwork/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheLaurieMoore/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauriereneemoore
- Other: https://linktr.ee/MooreThanPortraits
