Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Marshall.
Laura, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I got my first art easel when I was about 2 years old from Santa and I am pretty sure I painted until I ran out of supplies. All through elementary and grade school I enjoyed taking art classes and participated in Rodeo Art, Reflections, and other various art shows around the city. Growing up when you tell people you want to be an artist, you hear people say “Oh, you’ll be a starving artist!” or “Good luck making a career out of that!”. So, with time, I slowly put my art on the back burner and kept it as a hobby, but not a passion I was pursing.
High school came and went, my college years flew by in the blink of an eye and here I was as a young adult trying to start my career. I had studied corporate marketing and advertising and was able to work with designers to “be creative”, but I wasn’t actually being creative myself outside of a small project here and there on the side. After a couple years I switched careers into elementary education and followed my other passion– children! Talk about feeling like a famous artist… my students thought my doodles were museum worthy! In my free time I started teaching myself calligraphy and I dabbled in painting and drawing on a more regular basis.
One of my friends, Jamilyn Hull, encouraged me on a daily basis to open an Etsy store and pursue art. She told me she would be my number one PR girl and share my name with everyone she knew. A couple of summers ago, she passed away in a car accident on 610. My bible study leader, friend, and encourager were taken far too soon from this earth. For her funeral I “doodled” a couple of her quotes and had them mass printed to pass out to her friends and family. That was the same day that I opened my Etsy shop– June 30, 2015.
Since then I have hand written and painted hundreds of inspirational quotes and bible verses that are listed on my Etsy site (www.etsy.com/shop/doodlingfordays), I have 4 books published with my work in them (Everything Beautiful, Praise: A Creative Journaling Bible, 30 Days to Joy, and 30 Days to Peace). I also work with numerous realtors, lenders, business owners, and companies on custom watercolor home portraits. In addition, I also paint engagement portraits and occasional pet portraits.
I am excited to say that this will be my last year as a teacher and starting this summer I will be pursuing art full time. I look forward to expanding my business and fulfilling even more of my dreams. I have plans to write and illustrate a children’s book series and I cannot wait to see what the future holds!
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I have quite a variety of things that I create and have always struggled with a “niche” market because I just love doing it all! Majority of my time is spent doing watercolor home portraits. These are especially fun because you get to learn about the story of the home and people that live there. Recently I painted a lot of homes that were flooded in Harvey. I know that each of those paintings captured memories that those families would treasure for years to come. I also work with numerous realtors and the home portraits are given as closing gifts to their clients. What an exciting moment to share with someone and they step into a new place to call home.
On my Etsy shop I also have hundreds of quotes and bible verses. To me art mixed with words is such a unique way to share inspiration with others. I used to find myself reading quotes on Instagram or social media when you don’t have words to express it yourself. It’s crazy how you always come across one that is exactly what you needed to hear at that time. So, to know that what I am creating could potentially encourage or uplift someone else is a pretty cool feeling. I also find myself during my quiet time reading the bible and coming across a scripture that I think to myself… “I have to doodle that!” Then I am able to turn the verse into something more than just words on a page and there’s a chance that someone out there sees it and it is exactly what they need in that moment. And to know that without even talking with them, I was able to give them hope!
I have had the opportunity to work with a couple publishers on projects. I was discovered on Etsy and working with them was an exciting summer to say the least! Walking into a Barnes and Noble and seeing your name on the cover of a bible, and inside an adult coloring book and devotional makes you do a double take. I look forward to working with more publishers in the future as I move forward with my children’s book series!
From time to time, upon request, I will also do live paintings at events! These are always a thrilling and exciting evening and usually end with a live auction of my painting at the end of the night. I have worked with numerous non-profits and helped raise money for scholarships, water wells and mission work abroad, and for private events as a keepsake.
Basically, my mind is a nonstop creative pinwheel. It bounces from one idea to another and keeps going until it finally lands on a project. Then once it is complete, the wheel starts turning again and I am on to something else!
Artists face many challenges, but what do you feel is the most pressing among them?
Artist have so much to their advantage today, but also so many struggles and challenges to face. The social media platforms are truly what have made my business successful. To be able to complete a painting, snap a picture, and post it to Instagram for others to see is pretty incredible.
I think the biggest challenge artists are facing today is the mass production of artwork in stores and the ever-changing “trends”. No lies, Target’s new line is top notch and I’d go a decorate with some of their wall art. So, to know your market and to create something that people actually WANT in their home is so important. Our generation is simplistic and chic, so I think it is harder for people to see value in various styles of art, even though it might be an incredible piece of work.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
Etsy shop: www.etsy.com/shop/doodlingfordays
Instagram: @doodlingfordays_
Facebook: Doodling for Days
Contact Info:
- Website: www.etsy.com/shop/doodlingfordays.com
- Email: laura@doodlingfordays.com
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/doodlingfordays_/
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/doodlingfordays/
Image Credit:
Agape House Studio (main photo with me painting)
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
