Laurie Clements, a 1980 graduate of the Columbus College of Art and Design, has been painting most of her life. In the past 12 years she has made it a nearly full-time endeavor.

In 2006, Laurie was diagnosed with breast cancer. The episode reignited her passion for the role her artwork held in her life, ultimately inspiring her to devote herself to her own painting and help others who had cancer. She founded Locks and a Lift, a silent auction fund-raiser, based solely from the proceeds of the sales of her artwork, to benefit Ohio Health's Cancer Care Center and specifically to support the needs of other women during their treatment there. Since 2008, the sale of her artwork has raised more than $80,000 for women undergoing treatment for breast cancer and leukemia through her charity, her goal is to reach $100,000 with a final event. She has been proud to donate many pieces for other charitable events as well.

Now, officially a "cancer survivor," Laurie often states how fortunate she has been in life to have had that experience that ultimately reinvigorated her passion for her art. Her artwork, depicting landscapes (from rural Ohio to many corners of the world), florals, Columbus' neighborhood scenes, canines and subjects of all variety expected and unexpected, have come to occupy many lovely homes, professional buildings and restaurants throughout Central Ohio and beyond.

A native of Newark, Ohio, Laurie spent her earlier career as Director of Admissions and later as an instructor at CCAD, teaching there for 10 years. More recently, she also was the 2013 Artist in Residence with the New Albany Symphony.

Laurie and her husband Tom live in Westerville and have two grown children, Andrew and Chelsea. Tom and Laurie are active in several charitable endeavors, and proud to call Central Ohio their home.

In The Wizard of Oz remember how you felt when the movie turned to color – that’s how I feel when I paint. I find art fascinating because it gives you the ability to actually see what someone else is thinking. After my kids were grown, I began painting in oils and acrylics. I have taken numerous classes at CCAD, but it was my classes with artist Michael McEwan who really broadened my perspective and abilities. I am a member of the German Village Art League, the Creative Arts of Women, and the Dublin Area Art League. Born in Columbus, Ohio, I now live in German Village where I also have my studio.In The Wizard of Oz remember how you felt when the movie turned to color – that’s how I feel when I paint. I find art fascinating because it gives you the ability to actually see what someone else is thinking. After my kids were grown, I began painting in oils and acrylics. I have taken numerous classes at CCAD, but it was my classes with artist Michael McEwan who really broadened my perspective and abilities. I am a member of the German Village Art League, the Creative Arts of Women, and the Dublin Area Art League. Born in Columbus, Ohio, I now live in German Village where I also have my studio.

Capturing the allure and intensity of my subjects as a permanent image, I share the surreal and uplifting beauty existing in popular subjects. Influenced by landscapes and family adventures, especially trips to the museum, I search for new ways to present these familiar images to generate a rush for the viewer, just like the rush and the challenge that stimulates me to recreate them as a 2D image.

People make the outings memorable, but not wishing to be a portrait artist, I choose to focus on nature and collectibles. Through my paintings of these alluring images, I hope to impart a pleasurable experience for the viewer, to face another ubiquitous routine and challenging day.

Art In Decay

Robert Coomer is an internationally recognized, award winning photographer who grew up on a farm in Brown County, Ohio. Art has always been a part of his life and in 1994 he graduated with a BS degree in Graphic Design from the University of Cincinnati College of Design, Art, Architecture, and Planning.
 

He draws from his farm roots to shoot images of backyard wildlife, old barns, farmscapes, and scenic landscapes in Southwestern Ohio and Eastern Kentucky. His work is an exploration of light and subject, and discovering beauty in unexpected places.
 

I find beauty in age and decay, and then reproduce it in a way that maintains a sense of time and place. To do this, I use distressed steel as the basis of my pieces. It can take up to 3 months to build up the rust and patina patterns on each piece of steel and then up to 12 hours of surface work to strip and reveal the damage done. Once I have my surface, the image is printed to the metal with various techniques, and then float mounted on stained wood using distressed bolts that maintain the aged and worn appearance. Through this process I am able to create an emotional connection to the image, and produce a piece authentic enough to look as though it had been stolen from the scene and presented to the viewer as an artifact on display. The work is modern and industrial, but is equally at home among antiques and more traditional settings.

For the 3rd year in a row, we are proud to be showcasing the amazing artwork of NEW ALBANY HIGH SCHOOL students at an Opening Reception on Feb. 20 from 5 to 8 PM.  Please mark your calendar and show your support for these talented teens.