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

Laurie, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I’ve primarily learned through self-education. I’m constantly reading—books written by other painters, historical texts, and anything I can get my hands on that deepens my understanding of art. When I made the decision to present myself as a professional artist, it felt like my passion turned into an obsession. I’m a busy mother of three (11, 9, and 2), so my time with my materials is more limited than I’d like. However, even when I’m not actively painting, I’m always thinking about painting.

I make the most of my time by reading art books, even those covering topics I already know. Each new author brings a fresh perspective, and sometimes it’s those small, additional insights that make all the difference. You don’t know what you don’t know, and staying humble and open to learning has been essential for my growth. Reading works authored and illustrated by the masters of the past also provides me with invaluable perspective. Often, I’ll find myself needing to pause, reflect, take notes, and reread certain passages to fully process the ideas before applying them to my practice. These resources not only highlight how far I’ve come but also remind me of how much there still is to learn.

Art education has changed dramatically in the last century. The traditional master-apprentice model of passing down knowledge and techniques has largely disappeared. While modern art movements have their own merit, they’ve also contributed to the loss of some foundational practices. As a result, I’ve had to seek out and piece together this traditional knowledge on my own, reading widely and deeply to identify gaps in my understanding.

I did attend college and minored in art, but not at an art school. For a long time, I struggled with imposter syndrome because of this. Now, I recognize that attending art school might not have been the experience I was hoping for. The quality and focus of art programs vary so drastically that there’s no guarantee I would have found the rigorous, traditional education I was seeking. Instead, I’ve taken control of my education, sourcing knowledge from masters of the past and applying it to my own work.

Since committing to this approach, I’ve grown immensely as an artist. I can draw, I can paint—but the deeper understanding I’ve gained from studying traditional methods has taught me how to see. I’ve become more intentional about understanding my materials, mastering how to manipulate them, and exploring how people psychologically perceive and process visual information. This understanding allows me to make more effective choices in my art.

Whether it’s the subject matter I choose or the way I represent it, these informed choices increase the likelihood that my work resonates with a wider audience. Ultimately, that connection between the viewer and the art is what I strive for.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Laurie Moore, and I’m a self-taught artist from Waco, Texas. My journey to becoming a professional artist hasn’t been linear—it’s a story of rediscovery, perseverance, and an unwavering passion for creating. I’ve worn many hats in my life. In my late teens and early twenties, I served in the U.S. Navy as an IT specialist, which gave me the discipline and resilience I carry with me today. After earning an honorable discharge, I pursued a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Goshen College in Indiana and worked as a perioperative nurse. While I loved my work in healthcare, I eventually realized that my true calling was art.

I officially transitioned to full-time artistry in 2022, following a period of deep reflection after becoming a mother for the third time. It was then that I decided to fully dedicate myself to the creative path that had always been in my heart. As a portrait artist, my goal is to create works that are more than just a likeness—I strive to capture the essence of my subjects, telling their stories in a way that resonates with both them and those who view my art.

I specialize in portraiture because I find it endlessly fascinating. There’s something profoundly intimate about interpreting the human face, exploring the complexities of emotion, and bringing them to life on canvas. My work often reflects a blend of analytical precision and creative intuition, which allows me to infuse each piece with depth and meaning. Over the years, my portraits have found homes in private collections across New York, Indiana, Arizona, Texas, Michigan, and even as far as Australia, which is something I’m incredibly proud of.

What sets me apart is my commitment to storytelling. Whether I’m painting an individual, creating a family portrait, or working on a piece inspired by my personal memories, my art is always rooted in a desire to connect. I want viewers to not only see my work but to feel it, to reflect on their own stories through the emotions I embed into each piece. I also pride myself on being a lifelong learner. Art is a discipline that requires constant growth, and I approach it with humility and curiosity. I’m always reading, studying, and experimenting to refine my craft and deepen my understanding of the creative process.

For potential clients and fans, I want them to know that every piece I create is done with intention and care. My creative process is deeply personal—I pour myself into each portrait, working to capture something timeless and universal. I believe that art has the power to connect us, and I’m honored to share that connection with others through my work.

Above all, I’m most proud of how far I’ve come as both an artist and a person. Leaving the stability of nursing to pursue my art full-time was a leap of faith, but it has allowed me to not only rediscover who I am but also to create work that resonates deeply with others. My hope is that my art serves as a reminder of the beauty, complexity, and resilience of the human experience.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

To truly support artists and foster a thriving creative ecosystem, society needs to recognize the immense value that art and creativity bring to our collective experience. Art is more than decoration—it’s a mirror of our humanity, a vehicle for connection, and a way of preserving and sharing culture. Supporting artists starts with valuing their work not just as a commodity, but as an essential part of life.

One way society can help is by creating more accessible opportunities for education and mentorship. Historically, artists learned through apprenticeships, directly absorbing knowledge from masters. While that tradition has faded, it can be revived in modern ways, such as funding programs where established artists mentor emerging ones or supporting community workshops and residencies that encourage skill-sharing.

Another critical element is making the arts more financially sustainable for creators. Grants, scholarships, and public funding should be expanded and made more accessible, especially for those who are just starting or who come from underserved communities. Tax incentives for supporting the arts, whether for businesses or individual patrons, could also encourage investment in creative endeavors.

As a society, we need to prioritize spaces where art can thrive. This could mean funding local art initiatives, maintaining affordable studio spaces, or integrating the arts into public life—museums, galleries, and performance spaces, yes, but also schools, parks, and even healthcare facilities. Art should feel like it belongs everywhere because it does.

Finally, one of the most impactful ways to support artists is by fostering a culture that values their work. This starts with education. Teaching children not only to create but also to appreciate art helps build a society that respects and supports creative expression. Beyond that, simply showing up for artists—attending exhibits, buying directly from creators, sharing their work, and engaging with their stories—can make all the difference.

A thriving creative ecosystem isn’t just good for artists; it benefits everyone. It enriches communities, inspires innovation, and reminds us of our shared humanity. By supporting artists, society invests in its own cultural legacy and ensures that creativity continues to flourish for generations to come.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

Absolutely. In the beginning, I didn’t fully realize how much knowledge was readily available through books, online archives, and even social media. I wish I had discovered sooner the wealth of information shared by master painters and the foundations of traditional art techniques. Certain books, in particular, have been instrumental in catapulting my understanding of technique, composition, and the psychology of perception.

James Gurney’s Color and Light was a game-changer, helping me grasp the nuances of how light interacts with color in both realistic and imagined scenes. Andrew Loomis’ books—classics in their own right—have been invaluable in teaching the fundamentals of drawing, proportion, and the human figure. When it came to understanding composition, Greg Albert’s The Simple Secret to Better Painting and Molly Bang’s Picture This: How Pictures Work helped me transition from seeing composition as an abstract concept to a tangible, actionable tool.

On the technical side of painting, I’ve drawn insights from countless sources, but Jeremy Galton’s The Encyclopedia of Oil Painting Techniques was a fantastic starting point for learning the possibilities of the medium. Mia Tavonatti’s book on achieving texture effects in paint opened my eyes to new ways of manipulating materials, while Richard Yot’s Light for Visual Artists provided a solid foundation for understanding light and shadow. It helped me learn how to reverse-engineer lighting in imaginary scenes—a skill that has been pivotal in my creative process.

If I had discovered these resources earlier in my journey, I truly believe my growth could have accelerated significantly. Each of these works has shaped my understanding in unique ways, and together, they’ve allowed me to approach my practice with a deeper sense of intention and clarity. The beauty of art is that there’s always more to learn, and I’m grateful to have found these tools—even if a little later than I’d have liked.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.MooreThanPortraits.com
• Instagram: @LRM_Artwork
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaurieMooreArtwork