Laura Doyle

Four years ago I was preoccupied by the marks and unintentional form that watercolor paintings have and create. Then I was caught up the motions and movement of clay and how to manipulate a three-dimensional form. Now, after a few years of branching out, I’ve found my way back to painting. From experimenting with a wide range of media, I have grown to appreciate the materiality and plasticity of oil paint. Ever since I can remember I have been obsessed with the human form. The way skin reacts when wet, how light falls upon it, and the way facial expression and body language can tell a huge story. The human body is so complex, even just by looking at our anatomy itself. With painting I can capture depth with skin by thin layers of blues, reds, and yellows. With clay I learned how to feel how we are sculpted. I love the tension of pushing and manipulating clay to fit a form. Being able to draw a human body in entirety isn’t easy but trying to sculpt and manipulate a physical material into being another physical thing can be challenging. I make my work based on the organic quality of the form because it is something that I constantly pay attention to. I grew up in New York City so from an early age I was exposed to so many different people. 
 
Being from the City has definitely influenced my art in a graphic sense. Design and illustration are prevalent where I grew up. In my work I have a lot of graphic elements. I typically only paint people who are relevant in my day-to-day life because I feel like it’s what I know. It means something to me to paint people from my life because in a way, it’s a reflection of me. Now I embrace the imperfections of my work and I embrace the moments that are unintentional. 
 
A big part of my exploration in painting and my figurative work has derived from color. I mix all my colors prior before beginning a new piece. Its vital to my process to set time aside to think about how color can help narrate/convey the emotion and the familiarity of the people I am representing. I love layering down fleshy pinks and browns next to louder colors such as reds and Vibrant yellows.  
 
Being able to incorporate my love for the human body with ceramics and design has really made a difference in my work. Four years ago I saw myself as a future illustrator and now I see myself exploring the painting world and pushing my limits and expectations farther. My work is very diverse just like the community I was raised in and I want to highlight that change is something that I strive for as an artist. My work will continue to grow and adapt as I do.