Laura Alice studio visit

Last week the Revolving Gallery crew were again on the road visiting artists. We visited Laura Alice in Saltaire, Bradford on the same day that we visited Paul Stone in Sheffield. If gave us quite a long round trip but it was definitely worth it. The only problem was the Bradford weather but you can't have everything. I must say that I feel incredibly lucky to be able to visit all the artists studios.


Laura's art was a real contrast to the grey day outside, promise I won't mention the weather again. This in itself is an interesting point as a lot of her work represents nature, in particular mushrooms. For most people Mushrooms, meaning wild mushrooms and not the white ones in the supermarket, are associated with dark forests, autumn and wet weather. Hopefully you are nodding in agreement - this is what comes to mind when I think of wild mushrooms anyway. Laura's art anyhow is in contrast to these autumnal colours. From what I have seen of Laura's art it usually is using bright, fresh colours. Laura did explain that she is influenced by fabrics and textiles, indeed some of her art is made with textiles. I think that this is the influence for some of the colours. Certainly the influence of textiles appears to be present in the layering that is a feature of her work.

Having said all of this it maybe that some of the colours in Laura's Mushroom paintings are realistic colours. I know that mushrooms do come in some very bright and unexpected colours so maybe the colours are based on nature. I guess if you want to know the answer to this question and others then you can ask her in person at our opening exhibition on 09/12/09 at St John University.