About Laurie Franklin
Biography
I am full time artist and my artistic practice is deeply rooted in observation and response. I aim to capture the spirit and the atmosphere of the landscapes. I use mixed media (ink,acrylic, oils, charocal, pastel and metallic elements in combination) as it offers a powerful way to express the richness of natural scenes and convey the emotional resonance I feel with nature.
I often use a monochromatic palette such as the Mono series which focuses on the power of black and white imagery to evoke raw emotion. Stripping away color allows the viewer to concentrate on shapes, lines, and contrasts. This approach highlights the subtle nuances of light and shadow. It creates a mood that can be both stark and tender. In this series, I explore themes such as solitude, resilience, and introspection. These themes emerged during my Art Residences and painting journeys in Iceland, Switzerland, Italy and Canada.
My other popular series is the Banksia series - painted in a pared-back palette of neutrals combined with metallic accents like gold, copper, and silver. These elements evoke the shifting light and textured surfaces found in a multitude of environments, from the desert regions and sharp ridges to the soft undulating plains. This series is more than a collection of paintings; it is a journey through place, light, and texture, expressed through a unique blend of traditional and contemporary techniques. A significant influence on my work is the tradition of Chinese and Japanese ink painting. This art form distills landscapes and natural forms into expressive brushwork and subtle tonal gradations. By blending gestural marks with layered ink and acrylic, I connect my painted landscapes with this quiet yet powerful "language" of brush and contemplation. I think this allows my work to follow in a broader tradition of landscape art that values simplicity, mood, and the essence of nature. My artwork ranges in size from petite 20cm squares to over 4m in size allowing for the full expression of nature's impact on me.
I often use a monochromatic palette such as the Mono series which focuses on the power of black and white imagery to evoke raw emotion. Stripping away color allows the viewer to concentrate on shapes, lines, and contrasts. This approach highlights the subtle nuances of light and shadow. It creates a mood that can be both stark and tender. In this series, I explore themes such as solitude, resilience, and introspection. These themes emerged during my Art Residences and painting journeys in Iceland, Switzerland, Italy and Canada.
My other popular series is the Banksia series - painted in a pared-back palette of neutrals combined with metallic accents like gold, copper, and silver. These elements evoke the shifting light and textured surfaces found in a multitude of environments, from the desert regions and sharp ridges to the soft undulating plains. This series is more than a collection of paintings; it is a journey through place, light, and texture, expressed through a unique blend of traditional and contemporary techniques. A significant influence on my work is the tradition of Chinese and Japanese ink painting. This art form distills landscapes and natural forms into expressive brushwork and subtle tonal gradations. By blending gestural marks with layered ink and acrylic, I connect my painted landscapes with this quiet yet powerful "language" of brush and contemplation. I think this allows my work to follow in a broader tradition of landscape art that values simplicity, mood, and the essence of nature. My artwork ranges in size from petite 20cm squares to over 4m in size allowing for the full expression of nature's impact on me.
