Laura Berendsen Hughes is an acrylic painter working in Durham, North Carolina, USA. She paints dramatic, monumental silhouettes that balance initial spontaneity with the maturity of many layers of washes, impastos and line work. She has a BFA in sculpture from UNC – Chapel Hill and has worked as a professional graphic designer for many years. She uses her graphic design skills as an integral part of the process of creating initial compositions as well as adding final twists and turns.

Artist Statements
When I paint I’m attempting to use my accumulative skills to make something beautiful. Beauty isn’t the same as prettiness, although pretty also requires skill. For me beauty is deeper and must contain chaos decay and imperfection. What looks intuitive and spontaneous in my work actually starts with a fairly tight plan. I create a computer “sketch” so that I don’t have to think too much during the initial painting process. I’m an unapologetic copyist. I steal brush strokes, colors, shapes and techniques from other paintings to build my sketches. I use that digital guide as long as it doesn’t feel constrictive, I’m not just executing a plan, every step of the process is open to new inspiration. I’m a materialist at heart, I love to see what the paint wants to do and let it have a say in what finally shows up!

Reception:
Thursday, March 3, 2022
5 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Showing
March 3 – May 6, 2022

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