THE ARTISTIC JOURNEY OF LAURA LYNN LEWIS

          The artist in Laura Lynn Lewis became evident at the tender age of eight when she surprised family and friends with an accomplished self portrait.  Lewis’ parents nurtured their daughter’s budding talents with drawing and painting instruction, and in her teens, she studied portraiture privately with Glenna Goodacre, who created the Vietnam Women’s Memorial in Washington, D.C.  “I often think of Glenna’s constant refrain: ‘The lights against the darks bring out the form‘,” says Lewis, who sees Goodacre as a major influence on her own personal style. 

        The young painter went on to major in studio art at the University of Texas at Austin as well as Texas Tech University, and also studied with such notable artists as Paul Milosevich, Carrol Collier, Tim High and George Strickland.

         Over the years, Lewis moved from portraiture to landscapes, with a special interest in the wide, open spaces of the Texas panhandle where she has lived all of her life.  “I am interested in making images of big spaces and inviting the viewer to imagine that they inhabit the area,” says Lewis.  “While we have some very dramatic skyscapes in West Texas, I usually start with a landscape and then look for the right sky to finish the composition.”  Her approach is to think of what the oil painting needs as opposed to what’s present at any particular time and/or place.  By “arranging” geographical elements with photos, Lewis sets up a landscape in the same manner a still life artist arranges flowers, fruit, dishes, etc. 

        She considers herself a regionalist; popular during the 1920’s through the 1950’s, this movement celebrates the virtues of rural America and depicted specific geographical areas.  The artist has become interested in agricultural scenes, and many of her latest paintings are dedicated to these themes.  “The violent wind combined with the action of the machinery lend great drama to West Texas harvests,” says Lewis.  “There’s also the human element; the strong, personal connection between the workers and the earth.”

        In terms of collectors, Lewis’ technical virtuosity and unique vision have garnered an impressive following.  Her landscapes hang in the Supreme Court of Texas, in Rep. Carl Isett’s office in the State Capital, and in the Lubbock Convention and Tourist Office.  First United Bank displays her landscapes in Lubbock, Amarillo, Canyon, Lamesa and Littlefield.

       Lewis has won several awards, including two at national juried shows.  She has enjoyed four solo exhibits, and has been written up in Cowboys and Indians and American Artist magazines.  The artist’s growing popularity is reflected by the American Art Collector invitation to be included in an editorial feature on Oil Painters of America Western Regional Exhibition.  This article appeared in the national magazine’s August issue.

       "West Texas lands are stark, but Laura makes it beautiful; she captures the power of the country and its culture," notes Wally Darneille, CEO of Plains Cotton Cooperative Association, and a collector of Laura's paintings.