We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Laura Todd. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Laura below.

Laura , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I knew that I wanted to become a painter around the same time I was just learning how to read and write, so, I’d say early school age. When adults ask that question to children, “What do you want to do for work when you grow up?” a child’s response will nearly always be honest. A child’s mind isn’t preoccupied with how practical a job is or how much money they’ll make. A child’s mind is focused on what makes them happy. To me, there was real magic in making art, especially drawing animals. It felt so good to me when I could transform a blank piece of paper into a colorful creation. Like so many children, I wasn’t sure of myself and often wondered if I was “enough” or even “too much”. When I made new art, those worries seemed to melt away. Looking back, I see now how I was intuitively creating in order to heal my soul that was learning her way through this world.

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 did not start my career as a painter but instead, a teacher. I was convinced that teaching would be more stable and noble of a career. I taught Spanish and then worked with kids with special needs. In between, I created a “side hustle” taking commissions, mostly dog portraits on canvas. Even though I was still able to create, my life away from the school was mostly taken up with lesson planning and grading. I could feel a light within me burning out where it once was so vibrant as a younger version of myself. It was in 2019, right before the pandemic that I decided to take my art to a new career. I began to take on more commissions and embark on a new painting journey with murals. A huge part of my heart is for children. Children, who like little me, need opportunities to create, express, and build confidence. I have worked for a few non-profits that go directly into the schools and teach after school art classes. I also facilitate school murals, letting the students take responsibility and ownership of the project.
I was blessed by parents who encouraged my creativity and gave me plenty of supplies to keep my art mind growing. A lot of the kids I teach may or may not have the same privileges as I did as a kid, but I believe it is my God given purpose to help in that goal to ensure that every child receives opportunity to explore their artistic talents.
In regards to my professional portfolio, I have done my own exploring of where I care to drive my focus for the future. With my love for animals and the environment that gives us all we need to survive, it gives me motivation to paint the beauty of that. I want to dedicate my painting career to not only continue teaching children but also to nature conservation. My most recent landscapes and wildlife portraits are to honor The Earth and its inhabitants.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wish I knew about the advantages of learning how to make digital art. After years of hesitation and self-doubt, I started to use the Procreate App and it has lended me so much opportunity especially when I can create mural designs on it!

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

Society needs to shift from a culture that is individualistic to one that is deeply invested in their community. It will be very important that we focus on the investment of the creative community, who are real people, living real lives so in the future, we do not have to live in a world where the music we hear, the art we see, and the conversations we have, are compiled by a computer. AI has its purpose but it cannot steal a creative’s soul.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/lauratoddart
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/lauratoddart
• Other: [email protected] for mural and commission inquiries