Whether for chefs, tech innovators, or thought leaders, something about the Magic City inspires creativity. The local art scene is no exception, with artists making big waves in the city and worldwide. According to nationally known Birmingham-based artist Liz Lane, when it comes to artist enclaves, “Birmingham gives NYC a run for its money.”
We spoke with three talented visual artists about their work, inspiration, and what they love about Birmingham’s art scene. From whimsical florals to abstract explorations of nature, constructivism, and the life in between, each artist has her distinctive style and story to tell. Read on — you might just find a new piece for your home or office!
LAURA DEEMS
Laura Deems made her way to Birmingham by way of Charleston and Atlanta after training in textile design at the Lamar Dodd School of Art at the University of Georgia. She applies her breadth of experience working with fabrics and textures in her contemporary abstract pieces. Using various mediums, Laura challenges interpretations of patterns while leaving room for exploration.
“My background differs from most artists in that my language is textile design,” says Laura. “So, if you were to put an easel in front of me, I would entirely freeze up. My vocabulary includes weaving, color theory, screen printing, and pattern making. The creation of patterns, gestures, and movement is what drives my work.”
Laura’s work is frequently featured in designer showhouses and art galleries across the East Coast. Read on to get to know Laura and her work!
Where do you find inspiration?
A little bit of everywhere! It could be from a stimulating conversation, how a song makes me feel, a well-designed interior space, or textiles. My mind is always piecing together things that catch my eye.
What is one achievement or accolade you are particularly proud of?
There have been so many that have felt like pinch-me moments. When you are doing something you love that comes naturally to you, it always feels surprising when it is deemed as “good” or noteworthy. My happiest moments are walking into a home and seeing my work on display. How the client lives with it and has framed the piece is always fun. It truly feels collaborative at that point.
This past October, I hosted a preview party in New York. It was a phenomenal experience; seeing everyone excited about my work and interacting with it in person was encouraging. That was a massive moment for me in my career.
What advice do you have for aspiring artists?
Many artists would suggest “Don’t become an artist” simply because it can be a harder road to travel down in finding your lane and having your art be seen. But I feel like you should always try. Everyone has a voice and something different to say, and as long as you are true to that and express it in a way where others relate you cannot be unsuccessful. Art is an expression, and a way of connecting — the best tip is to not always look to your left and right but to stay true to what you have to say.
What are you working on now?
I will share a new limited edition LD Silk Screens collection on April 17. This will be the last time I put these into production.
To learn more about Laura and stay up-to-date on her upcoming silk screens collection, visit her website, sign up for her newsletter, and follow her on Instagram. For commission inquiries, contact Laura here.
KIM KREIS
Kim Kreis was a teacher by trade and an artist at heart. She was raised as an Army brat and eventually settled in Birmingham with her husband of 38 years. After raising her three children and co-running a successful personalized stationery company, Sweet Pea Designs, Kim began exploring painting as a way to use her lifelong creativity to connect with others, sharing her faith and values through her work.
“The majority of my pieces are large and colorfully whimsical,” says Kim. “I listen to contemporary Christian music as well as music that can lift the spirit in other genres while I am painting most of the time. Other times, I watch the classic movies from the 1930s through the ‘50s.”
Read on to learn about Kim’s journey to professional painting later in life.
Where do you draw inspiration from?
Twenty-three years ago, we were the first home built in Stonegate Farms, not far from Mt. Laurel on Dunnavant Road in Shelby County. I take long daily walks on a trail that winds through our neighborhood. The trails always provide opportunities to see the first tiny woodland flowers, slow-moving box turtles, owls, a crane, and deer crashing through the trees or leaping over our fencing. Truly, I see God everywhere I turn, and it is not hard to return home eager to paint with my signature blues punctuated with bright, complimentary tones.
What is one achievement or accolade you are particularly proud of?
On April 26, the movie Unsung Hero will debut, depicting the life of the musical duo For King and Country. One of my paintings will be seen during the movie, and I am very excited about that. Also, one of my paintings will be on the cover of the Huntsville City Lifestyle magazine in May. I am equally excited about that!
What advice do you have for aspiring artists?
I think any aspiring artist is blessed if they have those who encourage them. Especially if they are children, parents who provide opportunities to experience different mediums and activities are key, with no expectations other than enjoying because time will always tell.
Art can come from the beginning, or if you drop out of school, after a baby, if your children leave home, or if you leave the corporate world. It can start as a hobby and then explode, or it can stay a hobby that blesses you and everyone around you.
What are you working on now?
I have added flower vases to my creative endeavors that I create myself and will be introducing soon! Hand-building pottery allows me to compliment my canvas art in a way that is organic and exciting but, at the same time, incredibly relaxing.
To learn more about Kim and shop her pieces, visit her website and follow her on Instagram.
LIZ LANE
For Liz Lane, art has always been a family affair. “I grew up in a house full of art. I just thought that’s how people lived,” Liz tells us. “The smell of oil paint greeted me the way cookies would in some households. Art has always felt like what the idea of home feels like.”
Liz’s mother, Lorrie Lane, is an artist, and her father is a musician. Having studied fashion design at the University of Alabama, Liz carried the abstract principles of design through her fashion endeavors and into her art. Her Bluff Park studio is open by appointment to interested collectors, and she is also represented by several galleries across the country. You can find some of her pieces in Argent Interiors in Homewood.
Keep reading to learn about Liz, including her upcoming studio show on April 23, entitled “The Shell and the Shadow.”
Tell us about your work.
I create paintings that are considered abstract expressionism. Earth, wind, fire, and water all play a role in the subject matter. Using acrylics, then oil paint, I work in layers, building up contrast and depth to create peaceful yet emotional nonlinear stories. Usually, my paintings start as tangible representations of how I feel and end as projections of manifestations of hope and love. My hope is that viewers are able to feel safe and cared for around them and this leads them to be able to open up.
Where do you draw inspiration from?
I use nature as the ultimate source of inspiration for my shapes and compositions. I’m also inspired by a feeling of universal connectivity. Honestly, sometimes this connectivity can be very heavy and sometimes it can feel like dancing. Often, in one painting, there are multiple layers of inspiration from things I heard on the news, books I read, sweet and hard moments I had with my kids, or the song that was just playing on the radio.
What is one achievement or accolade you are particularly proud of?
Being able to be a professional artist for over 10 years and support my family by doing what I love is more than I could have ever imagined. I pinch myself every day.
The other accolade that makes all the hard work worth it is having people connect with it. I used to think people just found peace in the paintings, but I think they find peace in themselves. I hope it allows them to see the world through a different lens and see themselves in that world. When it happens, it’s like a zing. It’s palpable.
What advice do you have for aspiring artists?
To all the aspiring artists, always know that creativity is part of who you are. Being creative is as human as walking upright. Kids seem to find a natural ease around being creative, and adults often have to work a bit harder at reattaching to their creative souls.
Look for inspiration but not instruction. You can take classes and learn techniques, but at the end of the day, making art (craft is different) is the opposite of following instructions. You will reinvent the wheel every time — and that’s where the beauty, fun, and personal truth shine.
What are you working on now?
My next show is on April 23 at my studio. I’m showcasing a side of my art that I normally don’t allow out — the “shadow” — and visually representing how it illuminates the part I do show, the “shell.” I’m playing with transparent materials, lights, and video projections. I’m exploring, and that’s what it’s all about!
To learn more about Liz and schedule a studio appointment, visit her website and follow her on Instagram. Sign up for Liz’s newsletter to get the latest on her upcoming show!
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