Today we’d like to introduce you to Louisa Lorenz.
Hi Louisa, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up in an artistic household in California’s Central Valley. My family always had arts and different crafts spread around the house. My Dad, Chad Hunter, is an art professor in California and has had his hand in various 2D arts for 30+ years. I remember dressing in costumes and posing for my Dad to draw us kids. He was and still is a huge influence on me as an artist and a human.
Throughout high school, I created a 60’x30’’ poster for each home football game, which hung behind the bleachers. Later in my senior year, I was assigned a passion project for my English class, where I chose to paint a mural on the snack bar in the football stadium. Upon being well received, the school hired my family and me to paint a mural in the cafeteria for my senior class gift. My family’s mural business continues today, and that was how I paid my way through college.
In 2018, I began attending Brigham Young University- Idaho, where, in my desire to differentiate myself from my Dad, I chose 3D art. Halfway through school, I realized I had practiced drawing and painting my whole life with my Dad. We had spent countless years dissecting what makes a great painting. It then became clear I already had a love and excitement for painting and was eager to learn more. As a result, I switched to an emphasis on painting. I work in oils, and my Dad works in watercolor. They are different but still very much the same. That same semester, my professor Leon Parson recommended my name to a job that came to him. The job was to paint a 50’x10’’ mural in a 30,000 sq. ft. event home that the homeowners call” The Castle.” I was ecstatic, so honored, and in disbelief to be offered the job. I began planning and designing the mural and headed to Oregon to live in The Castle and paint their dining room. I worked 10-hour workdays with practically only Sundays off and finished in 9 months.
Soon after, I headed back to school to finish my degree. I graduated as fast as possible with a BA in painting in 2022 and jumped right into trying to get my name out there. I did all the applicable competitions and showed that I could find (or that my fantastic husband could find), including many plein air competitions. I now focus on painting consistently, both plein air and in the studio, studying from masters through workshops and books, and ultimately learning to become more me.
Let’s dig deeper into the story – has it been an easy path, and if not, what challenges have you overcome?
It can be challenging sailing, but do I want it to be? Difficult times have shaped me to be better and taught me to press forward. The mural in Oregon took me almost a year and was one of my life’s most challenging and rewarding times. It was my first time living absolutely on my own. Most of the time, I was the only person living in the 30,000 sqft home – it got spooky. This mural was my first giant commission, and wow, I felt the pressure to perform. I found it intimidating with contractors and builders watching my every move, especially when I sat down staring at my painting for long periods, trying to solve problems, and having people think I wasn’t working. On top of that, it was only up to me every day to paint, or else this painting was not getting done – I couldn’t rely on anyone else. I had to increase my faith in God and lean on Him to help guide me through this process, keep me safe, allow me to press forward continually, and aid me in completing it in time. This journey of overcoming challenges has instilled in me a deep sense of resilience and determination, which I hope can inspire others in their artistic pursuits.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I tell people I am an oil landscape painter, but by “landscape,” I typically mean anything in nature. I paint many flowers, hanging fruit, animals, structures, and anything else that catches my eye. I love how these things naturally are and how they react to their environment. I have a deep affection for small temperature shifts, light effects, shape variety, and subtle value variations in nature. My unique painting style, which focuses on capturing the essence of nature’s interactions, sets me apart from other artists, and I hope it can captivate and intrigue our readers.
I’m most proud to have been accepted into the 8th Annual AIS Small Works Showcase this April 2024. This exhibition featured 175 paintings of the nation’s best-living impressionist artists out of the 1,808 entries that were juried for consideration. American Impressionist Society is a society founded in 1998 that is a very highly respected art organization in the US for living artists. It offers juried competitions, opportunities for work to be considered, artists to network, and with specific criteria met, gain higher status within the organization. This achievement is a testament to my dedication and passion for my craft, and I hope it can inspire our readers in their artistic journeys.
At first glance, what sets me apart is being a full-time professional artist at age 25, but age is just a number. I talk about my artist Dad a lot, but I owe a lot to him; he is a source of inspiration. He is an Illustrator/Graphic Designer, and because I was surrounded by so much of both throughout my younger years, I adopted the understanding that a good drawing is most important. Not being able to draw well is very distracting to a piece of art and can make it hard for the viewer to look past and feel the feelings of the art. This goes to say for all the fundamentals of art. Having a solid foundation is of the utmost importance. This is all due to my love for a well-done design, precise shapes, and their importance in a painting.
Another thing that makes me unique is the mural experience I’ve attained. I’ve painted one very painterly mural in Oregon that I discussed earlier. I’ve also assisted on 30+ graphic-style murals with my family, including managing the execution side a good handful of times, which lends me to see the big picture painted at a grander scale and lead a team of painters. In addition, my belief in myself as an artist sets me apart. Because I saw my Dad as a fantastic artist and liked art, I knew I could become a great artist, too, if that’s what I wanted. I thought, “If he can do it, why can’t I?” I honestly think if I believe in myself, trust my instincts, trust God, and be vulnerable, all while having humility, It’s not so much a matter of if but when.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
When I paint, I do a lot of listening to audiobooks, mainly YA fiction. A few of my favorites are The Selection Series by Kiera Cass, The Giver Quartet by Lois Lowry, and The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer. I also love self-help books but can’t listen to them while I paint because I will stop painting and take vigorous notes the whole time. However, a few of my favorites are Atomic Habits by James Clear, Visual Thinking by Temple Grandin, and Anything by John and Julie Gottman. When I make time to read a book physically, I love The Art Spirit by Robert Henri and Landscape Painting Inside & Out by Kevin Macpherson. I’ve also been hooked on the podcast The Dr. John Delony Show- a Ramsey Network. It is a discussion with real people on how to better relationships. A few other podcasts are the All in an LDS Living Podcast and The Undraped Artist Podcast hosted by Jeff Hein.
Pricing:
- $250-$4000
Contact Info:
- Website: louisalorenz.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/louisalorenz.art/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Louisa-Lorenz-Art-100055749038634/
Image Credits
Brittanie Snelders
