Laura Engdahl creates art inspired “by the nature of time and the idea of growth”

Portola Valley resident Laura Engdahl always knew she wanted to be an artist, so it’s not surprising she’s been involved in artistic pursuits throughout her adult life.

While working a various small design firms, she started doing monotype printmaking and continues with that medium while also painting. She explains her approach to creating art on the MK Contemporary [703 Front Street, Santa Cruz] gallery website where her works on are display:

“My work combines my lifelong affinity for paper with a love of the texture and sensuous nature of beeswax. I begin by monotyping or painting on paper, sometimes thin sumi paper, sometimes maps and architectural blueprints, and sometimes tattered correspondence and ledgers from the early 1900s that have turned brittle and amber–colored with age. My work is my way of reconstructing the past — filtering and fragmenting hand painted papers — to gradually build up layers that capture a snapshot of history, invoking a precise, specific moment in time.

“The manipulation of the paper and wax allows me vicarious participation in its history. I often monotype or paint on both sides of a single sheet of paper so that when the molten wax impregnates the paper, the pulp becomes translucent and multiple images arise. The final step of fusing paper and wax transforms these disparate images and materials together into a harmonious composition which seeks to be greater than the sum of its parts.”

In addition to the gallery, Laura welcomes visitors to her studio; contact her at laura@lauraengdahl.com.

When asked about what’s most fulfilling about her artistic pursuits, she answers: “It’s an honor to have a piece of my art in someone’s home. I am very moved by that.”

Photo of Laura at the recent Portola Valley Arts Fest courtesy of the artist; work shown is Effervescent; 32” x 34” mixed media on panel.