BIO: I graduated summa cum laude with a BFA degree painting from the University of Minnesota. Then I spent 2 years in the Women's Art Registry Mentor/protege program working with the great Nancy Robinson. Over the years, I have served WARM in numerous capacities including, membership and exhibitions chair, Fresh Art program coordinator,and president of the board of directors of the Women’s Art Registry of Minnesota, and have organized and curated a number of WARM exhibitions. I have taught at the UofMCMU Studio, Open U, Stepping Stone Theatre, and Hamline University as adjunct professor. I have also developed and taught watercolor classes for life long learning programs for both Catholic Eldercare and the Ebenezer Foundation. Since settling my art life in my studio in the Northrup King Building, I have been a member of NEMAA and was part of the initial task force for the creation of First Thursdays in the Arts District. In addition, I lead visual journaling/watercolor trips beautiful Akumal. Mexico yearly. I have won a number of awards in juried shows over the years and been represented in many galleries which have come and gone both in the Twin Cities and Mexico and now here we are online.
STATEMENT:
I work both figuratively and abstractly, drawing my imagery from my “home ground” in the woods of Wisconsin, the jungles of my favorite winter retreat in the Yucatan, and my own back yard in Minneapolis, but I draw my inspiration from the nature of the painting process itself. For that reason, I work predominantly in water-soluble transparent media, which is more amendable to happy accident and discovery, making every painting an adventure.
Laurie Salmela joined Fine Art America on May 26th, 2009.
