“Saguaro Sentinel”
“Golden Hour at Pinnacle Peak”
“Beautiful for Spacious Skies”
“Swirl and Swish II - Triptych
“Copper State Tribute”
Phoenix Home & Garden editor-in-chief John Roark caught up with artist Lauren Knode at the Arizona Fine Art Expo.
Click on images for full view
“Light is the hidden language of the soul.” (Author Unknown)
Nature’s light greatly inspires me – a sunset’s ever-changing brilliance, the luminous light glowing through delicately translucent petals of a flower, shimmering ripples in a stream and waves, glistening as they gently make their way onto shore. I want my paintings to provoke and awaken the senses, transporting the viewer to a peaceful, quiet place within. Working in oil and pastel, I’ve found it an ever fascinating and challenging joy to create paintings that capture Nature’s glorious atmospheric luminescence.
Growing up in Portland, Oregon, I knew from an early age that art was my passion.
At age 10, while copying the drawing, “Praying Hands” by Albrecht Dürer, my mother made the observation I was always happiest when drawing or painting. This is a vivid memory for me and years later, upon reflection, proved to be an epiphany. My early years were happily spent in as many art classes as I could attend. This passion for art was especially encouraged by my mother who came from a family of artists. My grandfather was a cartoonist, caricaturist, and graphic designer and my uncle was a marvelous oil painter who graduated from the Chicago Art Institute. My mother would often quote her brother who said, "Never be afraid of color”. To this day the two major influences in my work are COLOR and LIGHT. And, as my paintings convey, I am certainly not afraid of color.
Pursuing this passion, I completed a master’s degree in painting and art education. A year of study in Italy with extended trips throughout Europe was an experience that greatly heightened my love for art and travel. After an art teaching career in Oregon, spanning 20 years, I decided to make painting my full-time vocation.
My participation in major art shows throughout the US included Arizona. Its sun-drenched landscape deeply influenced the use of color and light in my paintings and captivated my heart so much, I made it my home in 2003. The Arizona Fine Art EXPO in Scottsdale had its inaugural year in 2004. That year and every year since, this prestigious art show has become my annual pre-eminent exhibition.
My paintings and prints are in private and corporate collections throughout the US, Canada, and abroad.