We were lucky to catch up with Laura Irrgang recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Laura thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

Painting is my first love, but I always strive to learn additional skills and techniques. I think it’s important to be open to new ways of working. Staying flexible with your creativity is essential. In illustrating “Knitstrips: The World’s First Comic-Strip Knitting Book”, I worked almost entirely in Procreate, drawing on my iPad. I didn’t start using the iPad until a few years ago, but it has drastically sped up my workflow.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I have been making art for as long as I can remember. I split my time between fine art, illustration, teaching, writing, music, and cartooning. My most recent project is “Knitstrips: The World’s First Comic-Strip Knitting Book”, available for preorder now, and in bookstores March 15th, from Abrams Publishing. I co-illustrated it with Michele Phillips and it was created by authors Alice Ormsbee Beltran and Karen Kim Mar. It contains 22 fun knitting patterns presented in comic book style.
After receiving a degree in Fine Arts from Tarleton State University, I served as assistant director of F8 Fine Art Gallery in Austin, Texas. I was also an instructor for the University of Texas Informal Course program, teaching painting and art history, and was the summer art program director for a children’s museum. I continue to show art at galleries and gives public talks about my work. I currently have a teaching channel on Skillshare, which focuses on creativity and painting. I also teach limited in-person classes.
I am the 2020 recipient of the Hunt County Public Art award for my “You Be You” mural in downtown Greenville, Texas.
I created the comic strip “Glitterville”, featuring Eunice the pathologically positive unicorn, and Nadine the nasty narwhal. I also created the COVID-19-related comic strip, “Gregg”. I’m a member of the National Cartoonist’s Society’s Texas Chapter, the Texas Cartoonists.
I live in Lone Oak, Texas, with my husband and two daughters.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My “You Be You” mural in downtown Greenville, Texas, features stylized versions of fish found in North Texas lakes. I’m trying to spark an interest in nature and the conservation of our parks and wildlife. To be good stewards of our land and wild creatures, you first have to relate to those things on a personal level. Maybe this mural will be a starting point for some people. Conserving our wild spaces is extremely important to me. I also want to encourage everyone, but particularly young people, to follow their own creative spirit. The theme of my mural is individuality. If you have a calling to do something, a pull to a profession or hobby, I say go for it! Most people want to conform and be like everyone else, but I think that can be detrimental to your life if you deny your inner calling. That interesting, unique talent you have inside you is your gift to the world.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

In our fast-paced, super internet-driven world, it can be tricky for artists to be seen. Sure, you may see a flash of work as you scroll through Instagram or TikTok, but it’s just go-go-go on screens for so many people. I think one of the best things people can do to support artists and creatives is to slow down. Way down. If you enjoy someone’s work, take time to engage with it. Don’t just click ‘like’ and move on. Read their poetry. Take some time to really look at their art. Listen to the album. Then, obviously-it helps all creatives when you actually purchase work. But beyond that-start a dialogue with the artist. Let them know that you liked their work, what moved you. Most creatives really love hearing from their audience. I’m currently co-chairing the visual arts committee of the upcoming Hunt County Festival of the Arts, which will be held May 7th in downtown Greenville, Texas. I relish the opportunity to engage with both artists and art lovers in North Texas. We’ll be sharing all varieties of arts and culture, ranging from visual arts, music, theater, dance, and culinary arts. To help support the arts in our area, please come enjoy the event as an artist or a festival-goer, to help our thriving creative ecosystem.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.laurairrgang.com
• Instagram: @LauraIrrgang
• Facebook: Laura Irrgang Artist
• Youtube: Laura Irrgang