Explore Laura Brady Gallery, which made its debut in The Shops at 3900 Hamilton this past September. Here, Laura Brady shares the touching journey that led her to start growing and painting her own flowers as well as what to expect from her new space.
Describe your journey as an artist!
I have always considered myself an artist. Since a very early age I recall my love for drawing. All through school I was known as the “art kid" and I was asked to do many of the art-related projects in my school. I also enjoyed marketing and entrepreneurship, so I was interested in marketing design. Wanting to avoid the stigmas associated with being a "starving artist,” I chose communication and graphic design as my career path. However, I've always held on to my love for illustration and continued to integrate it within many of my graphic design projects. Eventually, I couldn't hold it in any longer and I felt like my passion for it literally exploded! I began building a small side business with a product line of my color pencil floral illustrations.
Tell us the story of how you started growing (and painting) your own flowers.
When I first started painting with acrylics in 2018, I had a vision of a lavender field, so I painted it! While the idea of actually planting a lavender field seemed overwhelming, at the time I felt deep within my heart that I would see this vision fulfilled. A few years passed, and sadly my mother became ill with melanoma. We shared a mutual love for gardening and a desire to grow beautiful flowers, so I wanted to find a way to give her something to enjoy while she was going through a difficult season. I decided to hand-toss close to an acre of zinnia seeds in one of our fields that lined our long driveway—this way my father could drive her along the driveway to see the flowers since she was too weak to leave the car. The first flower bloomed the day my mother passed on. While she wasn't able to enjoy it here on earth, it comforted me to know that this newly bloomed flower represented her blooming, healthy and whole in heaven.
Since then, we did in fact plant the lavender field! And every year we add new beautiful varieties of “cut flower” rows to the field, including zinnias. Actually, I purposely hand-toss part of the field, which allows the zinnias to grow wild and free, in memory of my mother. She will always be the reason why I desire to share this love of flowers with others.
I inherited the love for flowers from my mother. She was a great influence in this area of my life; we always enjoyed flowers together, growing and tending to them since a young age. She was also the first person to request that I draw flowers for her. I remember the great joy it brought her. This passion I carry for flowers is translated on canvas.
Tell us about your process.
It really starts in the field. While I tend to my flowers, I study each one of them closely—every beautiful flower petal. I am awestruck by the wonder of each one of them! In fact, my entire process reflects the way a flower grows. I first start with “ground work,” which truly is ground—dirt! It is a mix of dark blends of color. My next stage is called “color blocking”; to me it is like planting the seed. I quickly place the subject on the canvas, focusing on composition and color. And finally, the last stage is the detail stage. This is when the flower blooms! I literally feel like I am growing the flower. It truly is an amazing process which allows me to be one with nature—hand in hand with the Creator.
What did the journey look like of opening your own gallery?
After working in my home studio for many years, I had a desire to open a public studio space. One of the joys of being a painter is to hear how a painting moves a collector's heart—to hear stories about a particular flower and what it means to them, and who it reminds them of… usually a long-passed loved one. I truly feel like each painting holds a testimony for the viewer! I started my journey in a small studio space located inside Midnight Gallery in Schnecksville, but my work quickly outgrew the space.
What excites you about your new location in Allentown?
I am excited to “bloom” in this new gallery space, which is also a working studio where visitors can peek in the window to watch me paint and come in to view current works in progress.
What can locals find/shop at the new space?
Laura Brady Gallery serves as a fine art exhibition where guests can enjoy a relaxing and tranquil atmosphere while they absorb the beauty and wonder of creation. It's also a place where they can purchase an original piece of art by Laura Brady, art print, matted or canvas, or other inspirational items, such as journals, that will continue to offer encouragement, peace, perspective and hope. I hope the gallery inspires others by providing workshops and education sessions. In addition, coming in 2024, I will be selling my cut flowers along with flower-seed packets harvested from our flower fields. This will coincide with a new floral collection inspired by my flower fields.
Tell us about your recently-developed “Wellness Through Art” program.
Peak Potential Integrative Health, located on Hamilton Boulevard, is the first to join this program. The “Breakthrough Collection,” a cloud study, has been hung in their medical facility. The art is meant to bring comfort and release peace in the atmosphere. The “Wellness Through Art” program is on a mission to host peace, healing and mental wellness in medical facilities or other places of wellness and healing.
3900 Hamilton Blvd., Allentown | laurabradygallery.com
Published as “Get the Goods” in the November 2023 edition of Lehigh Valley Style magazine.
