The unique portrait and storytelling art of Lauri Kaye is captured in her new book “Tucson Portrait Stories”. Creative Director, David Brady recently sat down with the artist to talk about her portraits and new book.
DB: Do you remember the first portrait ever you did?
LK: Yes, actually it was a self-portrait that I drew with colored pencils for my application portfolio for art school. I found it several years ago and was shocked to see how similar it is to the drawings I’m currently working on. It’s funny and ironic how little my style has changed despite all of the schoolings, critiquing, and learning the supposed “do’s and don’ts” of art. For better or worse, what comes flowing from my heart to my brain and down my arm to my right hand hasn’t changed all that much.
DB: Did you always know you wanted to be an artist?
LK: While I always felt like an artist I never thought that was something people did for a living. In third grade, I declared I wanted to become a journalist just like Barbara Walters. I loved her interviews, her strength, and her unapologetic sense of curiosity. It was striking and unfamiliar to me to see a woman with so much confidence. Unlike Barbara, I was painfully shy and found it difficult to ask questions in school as well as communicate ideas articulately. The ability to put them on paper through drawings and essays was my saving grace.
DB: How do you decide who you are going to use as subjects for your portraits?
LK: They are usually people I meet spontaneously on the streets. I am naturally drawn to those whom I feel may need or want a voice and are overlooked. It takes all of my courage to introduce myself to a stranger whom I’m intrigued, and ask if I can photograph and interview them for a portrait. I am still surprised and delighted when they agree and love hearing them share their life story. I am always fascinated by what they share.
DB: Color plays an important role in the works of this collection, how does color play into your process?
LK: When I began this series with the portrait of Alberto, I was going to keep it black and white. It was important for me to work anywhere which meant using materials that fit in my purse. Black architectural pens, paper, and my iPhone. Eventually, I was challenged to add color and decided to give it a try using Adobe photoshop. (A computer still felt portable enough). I have grown to love experimenting with color, adding it to the negative space in my hand drawings. I seek out photographing graffiti, walls with lots of texture and fabrics and eventually decided to add those to the negative spaces as well. In some drawings, I might have a flower photo from one country, a blanket from another, and bring all of those space and time elements into the present drawing. It makes my world feel more connected.
DB: If you could have anyone in history tell you a story to make a work of art to, who would it be?
LK: Mohammed Ali, I love his passion, what he stood for and the price he was willing to pay to be true to himself. He is going to be my next portrait. I will have to continue to read and watch whatever I can get my hands on to learn more about him. I often add words and info that I learn about the subject right into the drawings. I like the texture it creates and it helps me remember all of the cool stuff I learn about the individual.
DB: Where is your favorite place on earth?
LK: Tucson, Arizona. Specifically DeGrazias chapel, with its open roof at Mission In The Sun.
DB: Sounds great to me! To see more of Lauri’s art and get a copy of Tucson Portrait Stories
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