Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Cunningham.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I have been an artist for as long as I can remember. Growing up, art supplies were always available in my Mom’s home art studio. I also remember watching a lot of Jacques Cousteau with my Dad. As a marine biology teacher, my Dad instilled in me a respect for the ocean and marine life. I studied fine art in college, earning a bachelor’s degree from Cal State Long Beach and a master’s in graphic design from The Academy of Art in San Francisco. Over the years, I worked as a graphic designer for and would dabble creatively in my spare time, I’ve always enjoyed taking pictures. One photo—of a palm tree in Coronado—inspired me to transform it with graphic design tools such as Photoshop and Illustrator. And my mixed-media style was born.
Please tell us about your art.
Starting with photos I take along Southern California’s beaches—favorite spots include Moonlight Beach in Encinitas and Laguna Beach—I then take the resulting images and uses my graphic design skills to shape them to my vision. That includes cropping them and layering on colors and symbols. I like to bring a nostalgic feel to my images, so I use black-and-white photography as the jumping-off point for my work and incorporate colors from the vintage posters I love —it references the look and feel of old photos from the 1960s and ‘70s. The end result is a combination of familiar scenes of nature with modernist graphics. For an extra element of color and texture, I sew threads onto the canvas. I frame each piece by hand from cigar boxes or yardsticks that are painted or collaged.
What do you think about conditions for artists today? Has life become easier or harder for artists in recent years? What can cities like ours do to encourage and help art and artists thrive?
I’ve come across some great artists through Instagram. Combining social media with live shows is a great way to find and grow your tribe.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
The best way to support my work is to come to one of my upcoming shows. I will be at Mission Federal Artwalk in Little Italy – April 28-29 and The Boardroom Expo at the Del Mar Fairgrounds – May 5-6. And in the fall, I will be showing at KAABOO in Del Mar, September 15-16. You are also welcome to set up an appointment with me at my studio. There is more information on my website www.LRCunningham.com.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.LRCunningham.com
- Phone: 760-815-8489
- Email: artLRC@outlook.com
- Instagram: artLRC
- Facebook: LauraCunninghamArt
Image Credit:
Teresa Fae Photography
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