Artospective: Expressionist Figurative Paintings by Laura de Vazeilles.

An Interview with Laura de Vazeilles.

Who and where are you from?

Hello, I’m Laura de Vazeilles, born in Barcelona 36 years ago. My Dad is French and my Mum is Spanish. I live in this beautiful city, in the neighborhood of Gracia, probably the most bohemian and artistic friendly district, where I also have my studio.

How you got into this?

Like many other things in my life, I got into the arts by “serendipity” (I love this word). Studying Fine Arts was my second option at the University, but I work as a surgical nurse. I have always felt attracted by arts, painting, drawing, colors, creativity… amazed by the ability to create… Nursing shares with art two essential values, humanity and sensitivity, but gives no margin of error, and so I always looked for the possibility, the boldness of making a mistake experimenting in the arts.

Serendipity got to me when I turned 30 and somebody gave me a few painting lessons in a art studio. Maybe because I was expecting my second child back then, while this new life was growing in my belly, an amazing need to create also began growing in me. And I haven’t stopped painting since then.

What is your driving force?

Emotion.

Now more than ever, in the world we live in, we need to be more human, sensitive, help feelings flow… and we artists, whether we are painters, illustrators, sculptors, musicians, dancers, poets, actors… we can help with that.

This is my driving force, emotion. When I draw, the emotion of starting something new from scratch. When I paint, letting it flow, playing with colors and textures, experimenting. And when I hand in a piece of work, the emotion that stirs from satisfaction.

Art has been present since the origins of humanity. We need to cross the elitist line that separates ourselves from art and bring it closer to society. Art is emotion and needs to be present in us.

What kind of work you do and why?

My painting is expressionist, mostly figurative.

This style I feel comfortable with brings me a new chance. The pioneer who gave name to Fauvism, so related to Expressionism, was a French art critic called almost like me, Louis Vaucelles.

Big-size portraits painted with palette knifes that give textures and where colors and strength prevail. Painting evolves, and so do we with it, but I believe my style defines my personality, filled with bright colors, joy, spontaneity, freshness, strength and energy.

I like this style where I use colors as a means of expression of feelings, boosting the enormous vigor of strokes, searching for emotional intensity… A passionate and vocational painting.

Can you Dedicate yourself to Painting?

I am very lucky for being able to combine my two great passions, nursing and to paint.

For some years now I work by order, I have a lot of work under commission, I have done some solo exhibitions, I participated in an international Art Fair, little by little I’m getting into the art more… a new serendipity will come to me?

I will continue to paint for now!