Today, we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Coll.
Hi Lauren, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for sharing your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
I’ve always had a passion for visual arts. Creating is vital for self-expression.
That said, I began in law and business, and to this day, I am still involved in these pursuits. However, for the past few years, I have been concentrating on visual arts: painting, drawing, photography, digital art, and digital printmaking.
My jump into art was a leap of faith. One day, I decided that since that was what I loved and felt I needed to do, I would delve into it. At first, I didn’t really know what I was doing, but I knew the sort of images that appealed to me.
It has been a struggle to reach a level where I can consistently produce the work I want. Recently, I took a break to remove myself from the process. It was the best thing I could have done. In the three months that I took off time, I came to better understand what I wanted out of my work. I was able to relax into a flow that allowed me to produce images comfortably and to tell the stories I wanted visually.
Since I was a child, I expressed myself creatively best through what was visual. I have a fairly good command of the written word, but in my mind, an image can express and evoke more emotion than thousands of words. It was this passion that brought me to where I am today.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
I don’t think that any road in any aspect of life is smooth. In my case, it was starting late, and that was the struggle for me. It was catching up with things that I felt that I should have already known.
Ironically, this artistic naïveté at times created some beautiful imagery. I began posting on Instagram early on at a time when many people could see my work. I had much encouragement from people in the art world who liked my posts. That helped me get through the initial rough stages of learning some basics.
Another struggle was the one I had with myself. I tend to be a very harsh critic. I still am. I am never satisfied. I always think that it can be done better. I can be better. I still fight that demon, but I’m letting the flow take over. Every once in a while, though, I will redo something numerous times until I think it’s close to right. Perfectionism can be a dirty word.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I work in different media and don’t box myself into one style. My wheelhouse is visual arts: painting, drawing, photography, digital art, and digital printmaking. I like realism more than abstract work, but I do abstract pieces from time to time.
My preference is storytelling, but I leave enough room for my audience to ultimately write their own ending. It’s important for a piece to resonate with the viewer. Everyone’s experience in life is different, while at the same time sharing commonalities. For this reason, I tell a story, but not the whole story. The viewers should fill in the parts most important to their experience.
I have been told that I have the ability to capture expressions well in my pieces. I work from photography mostly and select subjects that seem to have a hidden world beneath the surface. Sometimes, it’s the subject’s actions that express something covert. It fascinates me. I think it’s the result of my having studied people from when I was very young. It was my way to make sense of the world. I am intrigued by the essence of people.
Another topic that captivates me is the freedom of the road. It’s not just the road but the landscapes, motels, gas stations, and billboards along the way. I love to drive and experience that sense of escape. Some of my works delve into that vibe. The road is a subject that I would like to explore more.
The work that is shown in this article is reflective of the use of different media and styles: painting, digital painting, and photography.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
Miami is a city that is extremely cosmopolitan, and there is a live-and-let-live vibe. You are free to do what you want for the most part. Just don’t block traffic. It’s a city that, along with other parts of the state, like Key West, is quirky and unique. I love the iconoclastic nature of many people in our area. Florida attracts the weird, and I love that aspect of our city and state. It makes our area interesting and varied. There are many unusual characters from all over the world. Miami is a town ripe with subjects for any artist interested in people like me. At the moment, I am hooked on the different sorts of men and women you meet locally. I am doing a series of works based on Florida people and locations.
Another point of fascination is the water and nature in our area. At this time of year, for example, the Royal Poincianas are blooming, and the complementary colors of green and red are vibrant in our landscape. It’s a true feast for the eyes. Our beaches are stunning, and the folks who go to them take people-watching to a whole new level.
There is just so much here to see, that I am never at a lack for subjects. I think most people would agree that what I least like about the city is the unbearable heat and hurricanes of the summer and the traffic. ‘Nuf said.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.305art.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/coll_miami/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lcollstudio/
- Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/lauren-coll-44aa23195
- Other: http://www.305artbox.com
Image Credits
Lauren Coll
