Laura grew up in a small Texas rice farming town, igniting her love of nature.  Oil painting classes alongside her father gave her tools towards a creative path.  A failed chemistry experiment in high school reaffirmed this path when  she was doused in the safety shower.   That night, her father who ironically had a degree in chemistry, suggested art class might be a better fit.  Life path adjusted and passion in tow, she graduated  and completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Texas Tech University.  Her combined love of  drawing, color, and architecture were further developed over the next 10 years working as an interior architect in New Orleans and Houston.  With the addition of  3 sons, she transitioned into teaching art and design, first at the University of Houston and later as a high school art teacher in Katy ISD.   While teaching she worked on her own art practice, winning First Place and People’s Choice awards at Katy Contemporary Arts Museum and exhibiting in Houston galleries.  She was awarded a grant to study painting in Spain under Simon Beckmann.  She also studied under Diane Pike and Mark Boedges, two greatly admired plein air artists.   After an overseas assignment with her husband in the Middle East, she now lives and paints in Austin and the surrounding hill country.