Meet Laura Burkhart | Fine Artist / Painter & Woodworker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Laura Burkhart and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Laura, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
From the moment I could hold a crayon I was making art. Being an artist was always the dream for me, the obvious answer to what I wanted to be when I grew up. There were certainly several moments along the way when I tried to pursue more marketable skills, more practical lines of work, etc., times when the societal pressure and compounded with my fear of failure and made me doubt it all, but I always found my way back to Art. At some point I realized that having so much clarity about what I wanted to do in life was a gift in itself. I am lucky enough to feel a call from within to create art daily, so it’s just about committing to answering that call day after day. And while turning my passion into my career has been challenging, it’s been incredibly rewarding.

I see art as a transfer of energy, and my goal when creating is always to add a little bit more joy into the world. Every day I am in my studio creating, I feel so fulfilled, so lit up, and just so grateful. And if something I create can bring even a little happiness to someone else, then I have succeeded.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, nature has always been a significant part of my life. I am constantly in awe of the beauty that surrounds us here in the Pacific Northwest. I’m inspired every day by the lush foliage, the sparkling lakes, and most of all, the panoramic mountain views that encompass our home and connect us all. This natural beauty has been a constant and dependable source of joy throughout my life, and my work is in dedication to that joy; a series of studies in the perpetual pursuit of capturing it in paint and wood.

I paint impressionistic Mountain landscapes in acrylic and gold leaf, meant to evoke the feeling of being out in nature. And I build sculptural Woodwork wall art that plays on the juxtaposition of geometric shapes and hard lines with the wild fluidity of the wood grain. All of my work is informed by the landscape of my home, a joyful celebration of nature and a way to bring the outdoors in.

I earned degrees in both Fine Art and Interior Design and spent over a decade working in creative roles for large companies doing everything from window installations to store design. For years I worked .50 hour work weeks for other companies and pursued my own creative work on the side before finally transitioning into working for myself full time in 2018. It’s been incredibly challenging but my passion and my will to create always carries me through. The biggest lesson I’ve learned over and over is to not let rejection stifle my creativity. Being an artist is so vulnerable, its constantly pouring your heart and soul out onto a canvas for the world to see, and rejection is just part of the process. As much I would love to have thicker skin or be impervious, staying open and vulnerable is necessary to create so I’ve found I just need to ride the waves, feel it all and then keep going. Some of my best work has come directly after some of my biggest failures.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
As a true Seattelite, born and raised, my whole itinerary would be focused around adventures out in nature and good coffee. We’d head up to Index and hike Lake Serene and Bridal Veil Falls, my favorite hiking in the area because it gives incredible Mountain Views, an epic waterfall, and a stunning Alpine Lake at the top. If we had a sunny day and the kids in tow we’d head to Edmonds to grab a cup of coffee at Walnut Street Coffee and then ride the Ferry over the Kingston to catch the Mountains all around and look for Orcas in the Puget Sound. And for a day in the city I’d head to Ballard for the best shops, restaurants and Cafes. Lastly I’d make sure to have a day downtown to see the Seattle Art Museum and ride the wheel on the Pier.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My family deserves all the credit. They have been the most incredible support system, never doubting me even when I doubted myself, always cheering me on, and always lending a helping hand. Any success I have I owe to them.

Website: www.lauraburkhartcreative.com

Instagram: @lauraburkhart

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-burkhart-creative/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lauraburkhartcreative

Image Credits
Devin Larson Backcountry Bohemians Naomi Abbott