simplycharming

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Simply Charming

The Joy-Filled Art of Lauri Grimshaw-Cox WRITTEN BY Gina Jrel | PHOTOS BY Chelsea Stirlen Photography

She is a coffee snob. She loves avocados on buttered toast. She loves to laugh and make people feel good. And she loves to make art. Mixed media Artist Lauri (with no “E”) Grimshaw’s favorite word is “Joy.” She goes by the name “ArtGirl.” She describes herself as strange and peculiar, analytical, a perfectionist, bossy, a solution solver, a hippiechic-wanna-be, and a deep thinker who loves to be barefoot. This joyful self-taught artist is originally from Roy, Utah, and now resides in West Jordan. As a young child she chose to occupy herself gluing together doll clothes out of scraps, and imagining secret worlds. Her youthful artistic inclinations have become her career; one she says has been fostered, not by a formal art degree, but by her natural talent, diligence and her own savvy business smarts.

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Grimshaw-Cox has her own style of creating her whimsical, multimedia paintings. She controls her creative environment by listening to new age music, and never watches the news or reads newspapers. She prefers everyday accessible items to expensive, fancy art supplies. From rubber stamps to old crumpled papers, nothing is off-limits when it comes to making her art. Using inspirational words (text) as her starting place, she includes these words in her pieces and allows the birth of the artwork to take place naturally. Nothing is pre-planned. Everything is spontaneous. Using prints of her own finished paintings, she creates whimsical, art boxes, soldered jewels, dolls and bodices, cards and small prints. Grimshaw-Cox’s creative efforts have blossomed into her own company called “Epiphanies Of An Art Girl.” Her entrepreneurial efforts have flowered into several creative directions, including her “Soul Unleashed” art workshops.

“My pieces have many imperfections which I feel makes them unique and charming,” says L auri. “This is play time for me and allows me to not put that pressure onto myself and to be fearless.”

ArtGirl Bodices (Left to right) My First Love Story, Joy Is So Special A Thing, Breathe

In keeping her art affordable, prices for work displayed here range from $18 - $200

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ArtGirl Assorted box collection Contain prints of Grimshaw-Cox’s original artworks

ArtGirl Doll (Left to right) She Lives the Life She Imagined

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In her classes Lauri shares simple and inexpensive techniques with students as they create treasures for gifts or home. Her workshops foster a synergy of community-creativity, and connects friends with new friends. It is Lauri’s goal to have her students leave with a secret Sparkle of self-esteem and creative confidence. “My art is my Passion and I am dedicated to using these tools to bring joy, confidence and a creative way of life into the lives of women,” says Lauri. Workshops start at $35 for 2-4 hour classes, and go up to $250 for full-day adventures. A list of her classes can be found at: http:// soulunleashedinme.blogspot.com Another yummy fruit of her creative labors is Grimshaw-Cox’s eclectic, new shop called “Be Inspired,” (located at 8623 South Highland Drive in Sandy, Utah). This magical space showcases Lauri’s artwork, but also includes the works of many Utah artists.

Her “Soul Unleashed” art workshops are taught in this location, and a specialty tea shop is being added in the near future.

Artist Gina Jrel is a fine art painter based in St. George, Utah. Her painting career spans 30 years, and her works are owned in corporate and private collections worldwide. www.ginajrelart.com

To see more odd, whimsical, charming works by Lauri Grimshaw-Cox, visit her website at http://epiphaniesofanartgirl.blogspot.com, or email her at: artgirl@happyartisans.com.

ArtGirl Jewels Contain prints of Grimshaw-Cox’s original artworks ArtGirl Assorted box collection Contain prints of Grimshaw-Cox’s original artworks woman

ArtGirl Assorted box collection Contain prints of Grimshaw-Cox’s original artworks

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