Lauren Forcella
IF YOU CAN REMEMBER how you lost track of time when you were a child of 8-10 years, psychologists say those activities hold the key to your happiness as an adult. Lauren’s early life was all about art, writing and being in nature, which she eventually gravitated back to… but first “life” needed to happen. It wasn’t until after the hydrogeology career, the scientific publications, the environmental whistleblowing, after the Four Amazing Kids were born, the Master’s Degree in Consciousness Studies was earned, after the children’s book about the elements of the natural world was written (Lauren being mostly a writer by then), that the leader of Lauren’s writing group began bugging her to attend an art group called Wild Carrots. Finally she said, “You could create the images for your book,” and Lauren thought, hmm, maybe I could paint some cool “first-grader” art…
“I was immersed in the flow of raising four fantastic kids, when I first stepped into an art studio and discovered the meaning of the word “talent”. People are surprised that I’m self-taught, but you can hardly call it that. I can’t emphasize how surreal the onset was; painting arrived as an already-developed skill that continues to astonish. I guess that’s what talent is. Yes, you can develop it, but you don’t necessarily have to earn it to begin with. It’s just there if you’re lucky, and you’re even luckier if you discover it.”
Weeks after this “discovery”, Lauren and her family relocated to New Hampshire where Cindy, a new friend, after seeing her paintings from Wild Carrots, went out and rented an art studio for Lauren and matter-of-factly handed her the keys. That decade, while raising the kids, getting a 3rd-degree black belt in Taekwondo and taking gold in three national sparring championships, Lauren created over 100 paintings.
Writing took hold again when Lauren founded the syndicated “Straight Talk Advice” column [2004-2016] carried in 24 newspapers nationally. As the column grew and gained critical acclaim, the paintings stopped flying off the easel and eventually stopped even being painted.
“I loved writing the Straight Talk Advice.org column. Working with all the teen panelists and making a difference in the world was the thrill of a lifetime. That said, my nervous system is soo glad to be painting again. I feel like I’m home after a long, somewhat exhausting journey.”
Her paintings are in private collections throughout the United States and abroad. On her website, you can purchase originals as well as artist-quality giclee prints on canvas that arrive ready to hang and are available in a variety of sizes at affordable prices. Please contact her below for questions, private showings, or to commission a painting.
Lauren Forcella
email: lauren@laurenforcella.com
website: https://laurenforcella.com/
(707) 622-6821
Currently showing: See my website, or join my newsletter for up-to-date information on shows and new work.
ART GIVEAWAY: Hand-signed, hand-enhanced giclee print! Retail value $599. Register at https://laurenforcella.com/art-giveaway/
Exhibitions:
2019: Solo art show, Elle Lui, Santa Rosa CA, April 4 – March 4, 2019
2019: Juried exhibition, MONCA, Chico, CA
2018: New Online Gallery with ability to purchase originals and prints (ongoing)
2017: Solo art show, Elle Lui, Santa Rosa CA, Dec-March 18, 2017
2012: Solo art show, Gold River, CA
2011: Solo art show, Bukovina, Auburn, CA
2004: Selected Artist, Art in Print Calendar
2004: Featured Artist, Auburn Printers & No Cal Artists, Auburn, CA
2009: Solo art show, Bella Fiore, Fair Oaks, CA
2008: Solo art show, Sacramento Art Complex, Sacramento, CA
2007: Group art show, Art de Soul opening, Irvine, CA
2004: Group art show, Auburn Center for the Arts, Auburn, CA
2001: Solo art show, Latitudes, Auburn, CA
2000: Solo art show, Renaissance Room, Peterborough, NH
1999: Solo art show, Expressions Gallery, Milford, NH
Press:
2010: Feature Story, Auburn Journal, September, 2010
2009: Feature Story, American River Messenger, Feb 10, Sacramento, CA
MORE ABOUT THIS ARTIST
Artist Style: Visual: Contemporary, Impressionistic, Land/Cityscape
Artist Medium: Visual Arts: Acrylic, Oil
