​     Hello! I'm Lauren, the artist behind these floral paintings. I create photo-realistic paintings of flowers that are meant to encourage the audience to stop what they are doing and take a moment to appreciate natural beauty in the world around us. It's so easy to get caught up in the busy world with never-ending to-do lists running through our minds, so I want to create art that makes you hit pause and be present, if only for a moment. Instead of stopping to smell the roses, I invite you to stop and see the dahlias. 
     I am a mostly self-taught artist. In high school I took nearly every art class I could get my hands on but then lost touch with my creative side after graduation when I got sucked into the world of retail management. After a few years getting my footing in the working world, I went to college and graduated with degrees in Operations Management, Marketing, and Communication Studies. Ironically, business school is what motivated me to return to my artistic passion.
     I began painting again during my senior year as a stress relief. Instantly I felt more like myself than I had in years. When I shared the first painting I finished and received more support and encouragement than I could have imagined, I started to seriously consider becoming a professional artist. I started my art business in 2018 and the passion for painting I have keeps growing. Dahlias are my favorite subject to paint. I love their voluminous petals and dramatic shadows. They're the best flower to get lost in!
     If you'd like to keep up with my work, please join my newsletter by filling out the form in the footer of this page! I will be sharing more about myself and my practice in blog posts and of course on social media. Thank you for taking an interest in my paintings!