About Ashgar Studios
Lauralynn White
Lauralynn White
About Ashgar Studios and Lauralynn White
Ashgar Studios is located in the rolling hills and valleys of Berks County in the shadow of the
Nolde Forest near Mohnton, Pennsylvania. The sylvan location offers a ready community with
the earth. There is great inspiration to be found in the timeless and stately beings of old growth
forests and trees.
My most recent paintings are an expression of deep human emotion through organic forms,
saturation of colour and use of natural light. Much of my work relates to the infinite nature of
living within our very unsettling times. Never in the history of man has the world seemed smaller or
more fragile. No matter your political party or scientific belief, we should all be aware that we
are using the natural resources of our earth at an unprecedented rate. I cannot ignore the
mandate to express, to create, to engage in an active dialogue with the world.
Within my work I strive for a progression of composition that comes from geometric form as
found in the last works of Calder, Hopper and Picasso, the trueness of line as exemplified by
Cezanne and Matisse and form defined by colour illuminated by light as explored by Manet,
Monet and Degas. These influential painters are my inspiration as I strive to unify these
principles ...
As to my background, it is diverse in influence and dense with life experience. My mentors have
been numerous. They began with the owner of Anvil Studio, my very first art teacher, Jon
Smith, who made me draw boxes for a year until I could make precise perspective from them. In
the course of my formal education I attended Savannah College of Art and Design where I
had many very influential professors: Harry Dixon who made sure I understood the history of
art and applied it's principles. Steven Meyers who opened my mind to think from a painters
perspective and understood my affinity for trees. Roland Wolff who wouldn't allow me to think in
a linear path. James Reid (who painted my portrait to the right) had a way of making artists
angst seem normal and taught me to paint from master works in order to learn the lessons only
they can teach. Ben Morris, who taught me to make the important marks in under a minute and
the importance of "life" in line. I eventually succeeded in graduating magna cum laude and
Outstanding Senior with aBFA in Illustration and Art history.
Most recently, my summers at Chautauqua Institution are a rejuvenating breathe of fresh air for
the soul filled with intellectual stimulation and dialog in community with other artists in the midst of
their own journeys. There I have studied with sculptor Ed Smith who introduced me to the
relationship between painting and sculpture. Conversed with Trina Greene (sculptor), who
validated my thoughts on our relationship to the earth. Been inspired by the painter Stanley
Lewis, whose precise fusing of geometric form and composition with landscape is worthy of
admiration and took figure painting courses with Jeremy Long whose own analytical geometric
composition of everyday subject matter is a natural progression of modern art.
I have settled on pursuing the work I most enjoy: oil portraiture, pen and ink drawings, and
charcoal rendering. I am willing to teach anyone from 8 to 128 who is willing to learn in the
methods of the old and modern masters. As well as being a painter, I have background
experience in, furniture restoration, faux painting techniques, digital photo restoration, and
photography-- however I no longer develop or have a dark room.
At this place in my life, I have deep wells of passionate emotion and a broad understanding of
the world that impetuous youth lacks. I believe that depth is more apparent in my work than it has
ever been.
Ashgar Studios is located in the rolling hills and valleys of Berks County in the shadow of the
Nolde Forest near Mohnton, Pennsylvania. The sylvan location offers a ready community with
the earth. There is great inspiration to be found in the timeless and stately beings of old growth
forests and trees.
My most recent paintings are an expression of deep human emotion through organic forms,
saturation of colour and use of natural light. Much of my work relates to the infinite nature of
living within our very unsettling times. Never in the history of man has the world seemed smaller or
more fragile. No matter your political party or scientific belief, we should all be aware that we
are using the natural resources of our earth at an unprecedented rate. I cannot ignore the
mandate to express, to create, to engage in an active dialogue with the world.
Within my work I strive for a progression of composition that comes from geometric form as
found in the last works of Calder, Hopper and Picasso, the trueness of line as exemplified by
Cezanne and Matisse and form defined by colour illuminated by light as explored by Manet,
Monet and Degas. These influential painters are my inspiration as I strive to unify these
principles ...
As to my background, it is diverse in influence and dense with life experience. My mentors have
been numerous. They began with the owner of Anvil Studio, my very first art teacher, Jon
Smith, who made me draw boxes for a year until I could make precise perspective from them. In
the course of my formal education I attended Savannah College of Art and Design where I
had many very influential professors: Harry Dixon who made sure I understood the history of
art and applied it's principles. Steven Meyers who opened my mind to think from a painters
perspective and understood my affinity for trees. Roland Wolff who wouldn't allow me to think in
a linear path. James Reid (who painted my portrait to the right) had a way of making artists
angst seem normal and taught me to paint from master works in order to learn the lessons only
they can teach. Ben Morris, who taught me to make the important marks in under a minute and
the importance of "life" in line. I eventually succeeded in graduating magna cum laude and
Outstanding Senior with aBFA in Illustration and Art history.
Most recently, my summers at Chautauqua Institution are a rejuvenating breathe of fresh air for
the soul filled with intellectual stimulation and dialog in community with other artists in the midst of
their own journeys. There I have studied with sculptor Ed Smith who introduced me to the
relationship between painting and sculpture. Conversed with Trina Greene (sculptor), who
validated my thoughts on our relationship to the earth. Been inspired by the painter Stanley
Lewis, whose precise fusing of geometric form and composition with landscape is worthy of
admiration and took figure painting courses with Jeremy Long whose own analytical geometric
composition of everyday subject matter is a natural progression of modern art.
I have settled on pursuing the work I most enjoy: oil portraiture, pen and ink drawings, and
charcoal rendering. I am willing to teach anyone from 8 to 128 who is willing to learn in the
methods of the old and modern masters. As well as being a painter, I have background
experience in, furniture restoration, faux painting techniques, digital photo restoration, and
photography-- however I no longer develop or have a dark room.
At this place in my life, I have deep wells of passionate emotion and a broad understanding of
the world that impetuous youth lacks. I believe that depth is more apparent in my work than it has
ever been.
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" I cannot ignore the mandate to express, to create, to engage in an active dialogue with the world." ~ White |
| More works for sale in my Etsy Shop. Click Here |
| ChautauquaSketchbook 2009 ON SALE NOW Order one Today! |
| VACI Show in Chautauqua Opening Reception 5-7pm August 8th - August 24th @ Fowler-Kellogg Art Center |