Painting was never the 'plan'. In 2016, on a cold dreary Vermont winter day, her plan was self-care and getting lost in a new hobby, jewelry. Luckily, that jewelry class was full. So she looked for what was available. Abstract painting....She said, 'why not?', and signed up for her first painting class. From there, she became hooked and never stopped.
With her two young children in tow and a dream, she started Lauren Johnson Studio in her pop-up garage studio in Waterbury, VT.
After several years living in Vermont and a deeper love of art and nature, Lauren relocated back to Philadelphia in 2018 with her husband, children, and dog. The last time her family was there was when her son was born and working at the University of Pennsylvania Health System in Talent Acquisition and getting her MS in Organizational Development and Leadership. Life was surely different this time around.
She returned in the city where she continued her passion for painting, utilized her professional skills and learned to get her art business to the next level. It is around this time that she joined the Serena & Lily team as an artist and networked with local NJ galleries and stores in pursuit of connecting with her NJ community and beyond.
Lauren grew up in the central New Jersey Shore area where she lived the coastal life. It was there that she began her deep relationship with nature and the sea. Her coastal upbringing created a life of respite and relaxation that has stayed with her throughout her life.
Nature, her garden and the sea as her source of inspiration. She paints abstract art and modern impressionism landscapes which provide moments of peace and tranquility, providing calm for herself and her viewer.
Her style has also been inspired by artists ranging from abstract expressionism, such as Helen Frankenthaler to impressionism such as Matisse and Monet. They inspired her to explore color and form, expressions and gestures of beauty and gratitude for the beauty she sees in nature.
Japanese culture also plays a role in her work through the philosophy of wabi-sabi, enjoying the simplicity and finding solace in the perfectly imperfect. On many of her works she seeks a painterly version of a woodblock printed look on wooden canvas, oil pastels and drippy paints. A unique style all to her own.
Other pivotal times in her life include her experiences traveling and living abroad. She lived in Salamanca, Spain studying art and Spanish.
Creativity, craft and artistry across many disciplines are her passions besides her love of family. Whether the medium is acrylic, oil, watercolor, Japanese woodblock print, photography or clay, Lauren is drawn to express emotions and thoughts through her artwork.