slhl ARTIST
Drawing from Flora and Fauna An artist finds success while discovering nature. By Gina Parsons Photography by Colin Miller/Strauss Peyton
While growing up, Manchester artist Laura Lebeda hiked for miles in the woods behind her house. “The exploration and freedom of that gave me a respect and love of the outdoors. I remember in our yard watching in awe at the large lilac bush covered with Monarch butterflies,” she says. Now, Laura hopes that seeing her award-winning artwork will encourage people to explore and think about the strength, fragility and beauty of the natural world. Laura has been an artist all her life, using a plethora of different art mediums through the years. She especially enjoyed drawing, but struggled with her own perceptions. “I kept thinking that drawing wasn’t a valid art form. It was like the prototype before you paint or create a sculpture,” she says. “It took me a while to realize drawing was very valid.”
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AUGUST 2022 STLOUISHOMESMAG.COM
