LAURA ANNE WALKER

Laura Anne Walker has never studied drawing or painting. Although she drew as a child, she was re-introduced to painting through HAI while attending a mental health program. She began by drawing and painting her beloved cats. Her style evolved to the current complex paintings that incorporates text. Now, she says, “Cats are like jewelry in my paintings.” Working primarily in watercolor, she integrates intensely personal issues and feelings through text. Her style recalls horror vacui, but with a contemporary feel as figures and objects appear and recede. She says, “Making art helps me to solve problems and deal with issues so that they aren’t so overwhelming. Writing helps me get my feelings out immediately. It frees me to expel obsessive and repetitive thoughts.”

Now approaching the age of 50, perhaps she represents a most contemporary Outsider artist, becoming comfortable in her own skin and working out how to live successfully with a major mental illness. She has attended the HAI Studio for many years. Her paintings were recently featured in a solo exhibit at The Gallery at HAI. She recently participated in a panel discussion at North Carolina Wesleyan College, Rocky Mount, NC, on art and disability and is a member of the HAI Board of Directors.