Painting reminds me of playing golf. I love to start a new painting. There is the anticipation of the fun and joy of the beginning. Kind of like standing on the first tee box on a beautiful day before the hooks, shanks, and missed putts. Once the painting begins to take shape you have to get to the meat of the matter. The colors, design, and values, are being laid down. Correcting the mistakes you've made on the canvas are like recovering from a double bogey. Celebrating a well placed stroke of paint  and the feeling of sinking a birdie putt. When I am painting, finishing the painting is the hardest part. Compared to being relieved to finally get off the golf course after a challenging round. That's where my "caddies", fellow painters in my class or my social media group become invaluable. They will tell me when to lay down the paintbrush, add that last touch, and then walk away. Golf caddies help you see the line, choose the club, and tell you when, and when not to take the risky shot. Painting and golf can be very solitary and you need help at times getting out of your own head. But they are also both team sports.

My favorite story along my painting journey began with a phone call. The restaurant featuring my paintings was on the line. "We wanted to let you know that someone tried to steal one of your paintings last night. We caught them in the parking lot and were able to retrieve your painting. Just wanted to let you know." When I asked which painting the culprit tried to steal I was shocked! The painting was a large painting in (you guessed it), the ladies restroom! The reason I was so surprised was twofold, the size of the painting, 24"x36", and the sheer distance from the ladies restroom to the front door of the restaurant. As it turned out, a group of ladies had been partaking in some cocktails and had gotten a bit rowdy. They went to the restroom after closing out their tab and evidently decided to take the painting as a party favor. Once caught in the parking lot, they were very contrite and gave up the painting. My husband and I had a good laugh envisioning the entire spectacle. So, one of my proudest moments, when someone liked one of my painting well enough to steal it. Regardless if a bunch of alcohol was involved!

As I mentioned previously, I have some of my art featured at a local restaurant, Mezza Luna. The restaurant is very industrial in design with large open spaces and unfinished ceilings. When you put a painting there, (even large ones) the art is instantly dwarfed. The largest canvas I can fit in my Jeep is 5' x 5' but I need to paint larger! More on that later. I have sold well out of the ladies restroom. I was initially surprised by this! Why is my highest selling spot for my paintings the ladies restroom? I have come to the conclusion that women spend some time in the restroom, fixing make-up, playing with their hair, adjusting their clothing as well as the main purpose for the visit. And during that time, they look at the paintings and prices in a non-threatening and usually unobserved setting. So, regardless of the reason, the ladies restroom has been good real estate for my paintings. What a pleasant surprise.

There never seemed time to launch a website, then the pandemic hit. I am currently unable to work at my "daytime job" and thus, "Laura Vann Fine Art" was born in the vast amount of time that I have been at home. I started painting in 2008 after my mom was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She and I painted together as a diversion from from her treatment and her deteriorating medical condition. A local restaurant, Mezza Luna needed some artwork. Mezza Luna had recently opened and had some (ugly) posters on the wall. I talked to the chef/owner and he agreed to hang some of my paintings. I got a few free meals in return and some local interest in my paintings. I had business cards made. I felt validated as a painter with my new business cards and  some sold paintings under my belt. People who bought my paintings asked if I had a website. No, I said, that's for the pros. But as the months of the pandemic stretched on, and I painted more and more, I decided I needed AND wanted to have a website. So, here it is, "Laura Vann Fine Art". I put myself out there. I think my mom would be proud.