Lauren Pope grew up beneath the big sky of Tulsa, Oklahoma. In her early years, she had no exterior prodding to pursue art, much less any formal instruction. Her desire to create art was an innate response to the evocative power of the drawn image—the grace of line, the depth of shadow, the dynamics of narrative in composition. As a child, Lauren could be found sitting before open comic books, sketchpad in lap, pencil in hand, diligently honing skills that would eventually mature into the tools of a true artist. The sketch books of her high school years testify to a blossoming creative genius,...

Lauren Pope grew up beneath the big sky of Tulsa, Oklahoma. In her early years, she had no exterior prodding to pursue art, much less any formal instruction. Her desire to create art was an innate response to the evocative power of the drawn image—the grace of line, the depth of shadow, the dynamics of narrative in composition. As a child, Lauren could be found sitting before open comic books, sketchpad in lap, pencil in hand, diligently honing skills that would eventually mature into the tools of a true artist. The sketch books of her high school years testify to a blossoming creative genius, eager to not only emulate the work of her betters but also to experiment with various stylistic interpretations of her own.

Later, at Pensacola Christian College, painter Brian Jekel carefully mentored Lauren through B.S. and M.A. degrees in Commercial Art. Well respected by instructors and peers alike, Lauren’s prolific output, excellence in craft, and aesthetic sensibility singled her out as a young artist of considerable talent.

Since college and graduate school, Lauren has gone on to work as a professional illustrator for A Beka Book. After leaving that company, she has worked as a freelance artist illustrating children’s books, school textbooks, fashion and identity designs. Lauren has also distinguished herself by painting commissioned portraits and fine art. Her award-winning work has been featured in venues such as the Pensacola Museum of Art in Florida, the Greenhouse Gallery in San Antonio, Texas, and the Roundhouse Gallery in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Lauren gets her inspiration from a variety of sources, which has led to an artistic career marked by variation and adaptation. She is profoundly inspired by the work of artists such as Cecilia Beaux, John Singer Sargent, Arthur Rackham, and Alphonse Mucha. She is also encouraged by the work of competent craftsmen in any medium, from needlework to woodwork, from wallpaper to screen-printed t-shirts. When not in museums or scouring the Internet for craft blogs, Lauren’s artistic flame can be ignited by a walk through a garden, a trip to the farmer’s market, or a chance encounter with a captivating human face.

Lauren resides in Oklahoma with her three children. Her work can be seen on the following websites:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5010062

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lavatican/

http://lavatican.wordpress.com/