by Jo Barnes | photos by Sarah Hartley Photography –
Have you ever heard of a humility square? In quilting, it is a square with an intentional mistake in it, like a break in pattern or mismatched colour. It serves as a reminder that in the creative process perfection isn’t the goal; it’s the overall beauty that’s key.
Local artist and art teacher, Laura Evans, keeps this idea top of mind when she creates art and teaches it to others. “In quilting, one square is put in that is askew. I like to keep this idea at the forefront of my mind about art pieces not being perfect and celebrate the humanness of art,” she shares.
A self-taught artist, Laura worked at the Newmarket School of Fine Art in Ontario where she also benefitted from the mentoring of painter, Fred Thomson. Since moving to Vancouver Island in 2020, she has been teaching a variety of art courses to both adults and children.
“At Newmarket, I started shadowing other instructors and teaching a variety of art mediums including drawing, painting, sculpting and mixed media,” she says. “I am currently teaching at McTavish Academy of Art where I’ve enjoyed the freedom to develop art programs for kids and adults. I am now the Art Director.”
Outside of the classroom, Laura has been creating a collection of art done in pen and ink. She is currently planning an exhibit of her work for the fall to be hosted at McTavish Academy.
Developing her skills with pen and ink has been a journey. “In the past, I would only use India ink, but I felt I was limiting myself,” she shares. “So now I am more open to different inks and how they are made and can work together. I use inks that are alcohol-based, acrylic-based, and water-based.” The result is variety and vibrancy in both the colour and textures in her work.
Laura’s unique and intricate designs reflect her educational background and personal interest in national history and identity. “I pursued a degree in Indigenous studies at Trent University, which meant exploring history, finding out who we are as a people and as individuals, and trying to find my place in the evolving landscape of Canada,” she says. “I first started dabbling with ink and then a style kept calling to me. I am influenced by the formline structure of Indigenous artists and their work.”
Formline, the artform to which Laura refers, is an artistic style that uses flowing, continuous lines that tend to swell, taper, bend and join to create symmetry. In addition, her art is influenced by the interests and abilities of her parents. “My dad emigrated from Wales. He could tell stories and had a way of pulling people in when he told them. So, storytelling is a real interest of mine because it’s a way to connect with my Welsh heritage,” she shares.
Inspired by her mother’s love of quilting, Laura designs each art piece as a patchwork. “My mom is a quilt maker. She pieces items together and each one has ornament and design to it which I find captivating. I tried creating on canvas with paint and then using charcoal on paper. I learn the medium through trial and error,” she relates, adding with a smile: “Mom and I laugh with each other. She sews her quilt designs; I draw them!”
Laura’s art pieces are primarily 12 inches square, some larger, and take anywhere from a few days to several months to complete. They are very detailed and incorporate many elements including lines, shapes, and, recently, portraiture. “I start freehand in my sketchbook and take inspiration from nature like patterns in leaves, bark, rocks, and trees,” she notes. “I also draw from ideas floating around in my head or reference pictures I have gathered.”
As an art teacher, Laura thoroughly enjoys encouraging her students to be creative whether they’re young or young at heart. “With kids, things are new and challenging, but they have easier access to the imagination. Adults come in with an idea that play isn’t useful unless it is productive,” she says. “As a teacher, I am a facilitator of others’ creativity and development. I love seeing students being creative or ‘in the flow.’ It is amazing. We are creating together in a group and creating a sense of community.”
At her core, art is deeply personal for Laura; it’s an environment in which she thrives. “Art set my soul on fire years ago,” she comments. “My parents used to say ‘Laura lives in another world; she just comes to visit us’.”
In Laura’s world, the sum of these patchwork parts, experience, heritage, education, and, sometimes an unplanned pen stroke, can result in something very beautiful.
For purchase or commission inquiries, visit www.lauraevansartanddesign.com.
