Laura Stevens is a visual artist from rural Eastern Ontario Her formal education includes a Studio Arts Diploma from Sheridan Institute along with a BA in Fine Arts and Psychology from Bishops University After completing an illustration intensive in Worcester England she pursued an internship under the tutelage of Wendy Wacko through Mountain Galleries where she fell in love with the beauty and talent of the Canadian art community Upon returning to Ontario she and her family settled in Finch where she opened Victoria Street Studios There she has continued to develop her own artistic practice while teaching workshops around the region Her work can be found in both private and public collections across CanadaARTIST STATEMENTI paint for the joy of it I love the satisfaction of dragging pigment across a blank canvas to see how it can be molded into a being with spirit I choose to paint animals that are iconic to Canadian culture as a celebration of the land I live on Abstracting these animals allows me to paint a snapshot of their energies to grab a still glimpse of a subject that is so rarely still I paint quickly and vibrantly focusing on saturating the body with colour and line juxtaposing that strength with a soft clear eye I choose to pair bright neons with neutral overtones hinting at the vibrancy that lays beneath the earthy tones of the animals fur Every new piece is a new exploration a process which I never tire of Painting is my passion and I am grateful everyday that Ive been given this gift