Nurturing hobbies outside work is essential when you work in a creative field. If we don't take time to fill up the well of inspiration, it runs dry.
We sat down with our Creative Director, Laurie, to chat about her love of painting, what inspires her, and how her chosen hobby keeps her grounded.
Have you always loved painting or is this a new hobby?
I have been painting on and off since I was in my early teens. I took a long break when we were raising children, and now I've recently taken it up again.
How do you feel when you're painting?
I feel like time stands still. It's a good thing to do when I feel overwhelmed by deadlines or just general life. Painting is a good way to calm my mind.
Do you take inspiration from a subject or does your work come from an internal source?
I like to interpret a subject, usually a photo. My favorite medium is oil, and I like how I can continue to add to or subtract from my painting as the mood strikes.
Do you have any future hopes for this hobby?
I just paint for myself, so I don't have any plans to take the hobby beyond that. But my daughter Katie has shown an interest, so I'd like to share it with her.
Share with us an artist or two that inspires you.
It's hard to choose just one, but I admire the impressionists for painting what they see rather than what they know. When I'm painting I try to see the actual colors or shapes in my subject - often I'll see that leaves are yellow or blue rather than green.
Any advice for someone who is thinking about starting a new hobby?
Choose something that gives you a feeling of calm when you're doing it and accomplishment when you're finished.