I am originally from the metropolitan area of Detroit, Michigan, and graduated from the Columbus College of Art and Design with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in December 1999. I worked as an artist and art conservator in New Orleans, Louisiana for several years before pursuing a career as a full-time artist. I am a wife to a Coast Guardsmen and proud mother of one. Having an Etsy Shop has been a monumental tool for my business as a military spouse because we must uproot and move every couple of years. Through Etsy, I can connect with people from all over the world without any need for a store front. Presently, my family and I reside in Long Beach, California.

I have been fortunate to have incredible women in my life who have inspired me with their strength, courage, and resilience. In fact, this shop is dedicated and named after my beautiful grandmothers, Vivian and Beverly, who have been two of the most influential women in my life. My grandmothers have and continue to embody the very best of the American spirit; the ability to be a devoted wife and mother, yet remain independent, self-confident, and driven to be successful in other passionate pursuits in life.

Naturally, I make use of these personal relationships in my artwork. My process begins by transferring an image onto a silkscreen using an ultraviolet light exposure process in which the image is burned into the screen. Then, I am able to print the image onto paper by pushing ink through the silkscreen using a squeegee. Printmaking and color have always been obsessions of mine since college; I simply love the process and anticipatory surprise when I see my image transferred to the paper for the first time.

I consider myself one of the lucky ones. When I am not running after my little one, I am in my home studio, printing and painting…I am living my dream – to create beautiful pieces to brighten up people’s lives and their living spaces – something that would make both of my grandmothers very happy to know.

Please never hesitate to contact me with any questions and I ask that you also stop by my other Etsy Shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/lauramaedooris to see my formal work.