‘Here I am : Laurel’ | 40x60in | Oil on canvas
I’ve recently started taking my camera out with me everywhere on the off chance I might see someone that absolutely has to be painted. On the whole, most people are receptive and I’ve found it’s opened up really interesting conversations with people I would have never got to know about previously.
Whilst I was living in LA, I met this wonderfully dynamic pair of women who allowed me into their home, opened up to me about their lives and agreed to let me capture them in a painting. Grandma Laurel F. and her Granddaughter Laurel L. The detail of each piece is incredible, describing their family history through people, experiences and places within their family tree. Laurel F. has dedicated her life to helping others through her work with Planned Parenthood, National Organisation for Women, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Rights to name a few. At the time I met them, she was driving her 97 year old neighbour to her weekly errands, and making crochet hats for hospitalised children. She lives on Social security and somehow includes small donations into her budget. A wonderful pair of humans.