Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Skinner.
Hi Laura, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
All my life, I’ve made art. I was one of those kids who always got markers or paint sets for Christmas. I have so many paintings and drawings from over the years, and my family has collections of handmade cards I’ve given them for birthdays and anniversaries. I got a sewing machine for Christmas one year – an As Seen on TV ‘Mighty Mender’ – and sewed matching dresses for my sister and myself out of the ugliest coral-colored curtains. As much art as I created growing up, it wasn’t until my senior year of high school that I decided to pursue fine art in college. The four years I spent as an art student at Virginia Tech were transformational. I like to say that if you truly want to get to know yourself, get an art degree. Creating art is such a personal process. Besides painting literal self-portraits, most prompts from my professors forced me to reflect on my identity and values, so I learned a lot about myself. I took drawing, painting, and photography and exhibited a gallery of ceramic work for my senior show. After college, my art-making shifted into my free time around full-time, part-time, and work-from-home jobs. I am so lucky to have a network of people who support and encourage my work. My recent goal has been to show my art in the world more. Whether at a local gallery or wearing a piece I made in the middle of Manhattan, it has been rewarding to let my art take on a life of its own outside the studio.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
A few years ago I started having some health issues and had two neck-related surgeries within a year. It opened my eyes to how I was (and wasn’t!) taking care of my body, one of my most important tools as an artist. Don’t get me wrong – some of the best art has come from the lowest places, but taking care of my physical and mental health allows me space to explore more with my art. My best work comes from a place of curiosity and experimentation. I can only do that if I feel my best.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’ve become especially interested in fashion over the past 7 or 8 years. It started with marker and gouache fashion illustrations of models from the latest issue of Vogue or Marie Claire. Then in 2022, I decided to try sewing some garments using my 1960s Singer sewing machine that belonged to my grandmother. My mom gave me a dress form for my birthday that year, allowing me to create my own patterns using the human form. I’ve sewn some really pretty outfits and some pretty silly ones. Some of my favorites from the past year include a dress made from woodwind instrument reeds for a local fashion show, an asymmetrical ruffle-y pink plaid dress, a Barbie Halloween costume with matching handmade brush, a crocheted flower dress I wore in the streets of Manhattan that I also displayed in a local gallery, and a yellow magnolia dress I made from Oscar de la Renta fabric and photographed at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh. I’m most proud of the pieces I’ve worn out in the world. Putting the outfit on my body activates it in a new way and lets me become part of the art. Life is one big performance piece, and it’s always fun to lean into that with my work.
What changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I love seeing so many people online refashioning their own clothing or altering thrifted finds. Hand-making garments used to be the norm – people were not able to order a new wardrobe overnight like we can today. In a world of fast fashion, there are communities of people advocating for slow fashion. I believe the conversation around sustainability will continue to grow, and hopefully, the actions of larger brands will follow.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lauraskinner.art
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraskinnerart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lauraskinnerart/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lauraskinner
