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"It just makes me smile," a client said while being interviewed by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "It makes me happy every time I walk by it."
Laurel V. Fry paints with light and imagination. She captures the essence and soul of her subjects and sets them free in oil on canvas. Her original inspiration was both V. M. Fry, her mother, and Clair V. Fry, her grandfather. Clair painted calendars and was the Art Director for Brown and Bigelow in Minneapolis and counted Maxfield Parrish and Norman Rockwell as friends and fellow painters. She apprenticed with her grandfather in her twenties. Ms. Fry then followed in their footsteps as a painter.
Laurel works her portraits in oil on canvas. She credits her mother and grandfather for the lessons learned in composition, value, and color but the style is her own.
Laurel and her grandfather were featured in a PBS television broadcast of "Georgia Digest" in 1989.
The Atlanta Journal Constitution wrote a feature article about Ms. Fry's work in the December 19, 2005 edition.
Listed in Cambridge Who's Who 2007-2008 Edition.
Accepted member in Oil Painters of America 2008, 2009 and 2010. The leading art organization dedicated to preserving and promoting excellence in representational art.
Selected to submit "Request For Proposal" on permanent installation of two commission paintings (8'x7' each); for Suwanee City Hall 2009. (one of eight national finalists )
Selected in 2009 Eastern Regional Exhibition, Corse Gallery, Jacksonville, FLA. "This show represents the best representational art East of the Mississippi, from Canada all the way to Florida. View nearly 100 paintings by some of the best artists today!" (quote from Corse Gallery, in feature article for Art Collectors Magazine) (Eligible states and provinces: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Brunswick, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Newfoundland, North Carolina, Nova Scotia, Ohio, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin.)
Laurel paints and resides in GA. with her twin children, husband, weimarianer dog Elmo, her prize winning show bunnies Mack and Mindy, and her rescue, Hobo.
Associations:
Smile Train Benefit Auction. Donation of two large paintings at Chateau Elans Fund Raising Auction. The money received, repaired four childrens cleft palettes living in third world countries.
Member of Natural Resources Defense Council, New York, N.Y.
Member of Defenders of Wildlife, Washington, D.C.
Member of National Wildlife Federation, Washington, D.C.
Atlanta Humane Society Benefit Auction. Based on a sample portrait of two wolves titled "Love at First Bite",(sold) the highest bidder, received a large two dog portrait of their golden retriever and bermese mountain dog. 50% was donated to the Atlanta Humane Society of the final auction price. They later, bought a second portrait of their dogs painted by her, as well.
Education:
American University, Washington, D.C.
Maryland College of Art, MD.
ARTISTS STATEMENT
Wondering what the next inspiration might be; I witness something extraordinary, from the ordinary. It could be an expression worn by my subject. It could be the way the sunlight hits my subject. When it is, I'm chasing it's natural design, brilliant highlights, hue-filled mid-tones, and deep shadows all depicting the fleeting moment. I always start my canvas with the thought that this one could become "the best work I have ever done". What I often feel is divine guidance; given a chance.
My hope is that the viewer can be taken into the painting, where one can feel free from the boundaries of reality, and enjoy the feeling that accompanies the surge of power that's within that animal. Knowing now, as my Grandfather would remind me; "art is not a destination, it is a journey, filled with many plateaus, and when you climb another cliff there is no feeling like it in the world!"
PROCESS USED TO CREATE MY WORK:
Here's how I lay out my palette: I start with yellow, moving counter-clockwise through the earth; yellow, orange, reds, both warm and cool, to the purple, then blue, as a spacer, the burnt umber, followed by veridian green, with opaque white and clear paint medium in the middle. I map out the work in a yellow-ochre wash with a turpentine rag in the other hand as I block in the image. When I feel I have a firm foundation for the work, I let it dry. Then, I mix the color for that brushstroke on the palette with-clear paint medium. This results in planned color, and ease in application with textural variation. Always studying my subjects negative spaces as well as positive spaces, (values then colors), I develop the feel of the whole image, working on the entire canvas at once, never concentrating on just one area at a time, letting it build as a mass to keep the painting uniform in quality. I find this method especially important when working with multiple subjects within the composition.
My approach to larger works: I back up about twenty feet constantly. That is where I make my decisions, about shape, color and brushstroke. I carry that in my mind and apply that one brushstroke, backing up again, I see how it reads, asking myself, "how is this from across the room?" Observers interacting, often smile, saying they're pretty wild looking up close, textural, with colorful shapes of paint, almost abstract, then a few feet away impressionist, finally pulling together to be representational from far back.
When immersed in a work I become totally unaware of the actual act of painting; the flow of absorbed unity with my subject transcends this.
THE OEUVRE OF L.V. FRY;
My style is basically realistic; however, I mean to take the viewer to a sense of wonder, brought beyond its origin; where the environment is beautiful, and rich in all that nature can provide. Through paint, I celebrate the love for the natural world and my passion for its creatures that dwell within. I invite you to take with you; a feeling of being uplifted, encouraged, and happy. Inspiring the heart to value and protect the land and its creatures.
(below Emmanuel Lewis of "Webster" with Laurel V. Fry purchasing one of the two paintings he bought of hers)
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