Creator's Corner: Lauren Danger | Elliminyt , VIC
Lauren Danger | Painter
Lauren is a full time artist known for her unique and colourful landscape paintings of The Otways and Surf Coast.
Here she talks about how growing up in nature influences her art, how creating intuitively gives her freedom, and what she looks forward to each day.
Tell us a little about yourself! Who are you and what’s your creative background?
My days are spent between being an artist, a partner to Tim, and mother to my 3 year old son Archer.
I grew up in the heart of the Otways, Beech Forest. Daily life was surrounded by rolling hills and rainforests, and my childhood adventures were based somewhere along the Great Ocean Road and its hinterland.
Now in my mid 30’s, I’ve been an artist for the past 6 years. I’m forever inspired by these locations. Working with acrylic as my main medium, I look to recreate images from the Great Ocean Road and Otway Ranges in my distinctive and colourful style.
What did the path to pursuing a creative career look like for you?
I was always drawing and creating as a child, but it got put aside throughout most of my 20’s. I had a long spell without nurturing the artist side of me. It’s easy to see now why I was feeling lost and unfulfilled.
At that time I was getting into the health and wellness scene. I stumbled across the advice that creativity is an incredibly important aspect of thriving. From that moment, I dove into different mediums and everything felt so right. I later refined my work to acrylic and started selling my works online in 2015, developing my own intuitive and unique style to what you see today.
As I look back now, what I’d learnt in my teens and 20’s has really been a big key to success. I worked for 17 years in retail and completed online marketing courses and research before the idea of selling art even came to me. These experiences I’m truly grateful for.
Which experiences have impacted your work as an artist?
My childhood and my favourite places to visit in our area. I’ve yet to do a lot of travelling, and I’m sure once I do this will impact my work as well.
What’s currently influencing your creativity?
I’m led by my intuition, whether that be my palette or composition. I’ve always loved to create this way as it gives me a wonderful sense of freedom. Recently, my process has taken me further away from my more loose, abstract work to a more realistic process.
I create my abstract works of the Otways and surrounds from memory. A couple of years ago I wanted to see what happened if I painted a scene of Beech Forest in my style using a photo as a reference. That artwork is called Beech Forest and Beyond.
It had this wonderful balance for me in how I wanted to express myself. I still allowed myself to use my intuition on colour choice and the form of the clouds and some brush marks yet much of the artwork resembles the photo that inspired it. After completing a few commissions in this style it felt like a natural progression to steer my focus this way.
I did hold off on this idea during 2020 as I didn’t have enough reference photos and who knew how many times we’d go into lockdown to keep a consistent flow! At the beginning of this year, I did my first series outside commissions in this style featuring the 12 Apostles. The amazing thing is that they’re well received which is so rewarding.
What does a typical day in the studio look like for you, and how has your art practice grown or changed?
My studio is in our 4th bedroom. It gave me that flexibility I needed in the first couple of years of motherhood where I could get some painting or admin done while Archer slept. There was always (and still can be) a blurred line between art and motherhood.
As he’s grown older and started daycare/kinder, I get 3 days where I can catch up, paint and do the usual admin. This is still quite new and it feels good to have a more structured schedule with boundaries.
What are some of the challenges of running your own creative business? And how do you approach these challenges?
Working from home with a little one is probably the top of the list. It all comes down to communication and setting boundaries which I’ll admit, I still need to work on it. I’m always seen around the house so it’s easy to interrupt. And that’s hard for a 3-year-old to understand.
We’d love to move me into an external studio and are looking into our options.
How do you see your art evolving over the next few years?
The Great Ocean Road and Otway Ranges will keep me busy for a very long time. My plan is to work my way through the area, being guided on intuition on which location to paint. Hopefully in a stand-alone studio!
What’s one misconception about pursuing a creative career that you want to rectify?
There are so so many but I can only speak from my own experience. There are many hours spent on things other than painting, and you need to be ok with giving time to them. Especially in the early days, you may not have the financial stability to outsource.
Being willing to do the jobs you may not like such as promoting yourself, admin, or customer service all needs to be factored in. I’m quite fortunate that I’m happy to wear all the hats if I have to, but I do feel for some creatives that this isn’t always the case.
What is the proudest moment in your journey so far?
It’d have to be the type of artwork I’m producing today. I know that sounds really simple, but I’m in absolute awe of my journey and looking back and connecting the dots on how I got to where I am. It really does bring a tear to my eye. I’m forever grateful that I listened to my gut and followed my intuition.
When you’re not at the studio, what can we find you doing?
Spending time with my little family. My partner Tim and I know how quickly these early years will go by so we like to do day trips with Archer. Tim and I both share a love for good food and it looks like Archer has an appreciation too. There’s so much to enjoy along the Great Ocean Road and its hinterland.
What do you look forward to each day?
Morning snuggles with Archer and being present with family over breakfast. I don’t even mind if the day starts a little later. I’ll linger in the moments. It’s just the best feeling.
What advice would you give aspiring women wanting to turn their passion or art into a career?
Give yourself every chance to create without it being about the finances. It’ll allow you to create from your heart without desperation. I spent 3 years building a business whilst working a part-time job. Time can always be found outside of it if you want it to grow. You can then make empowered decisions and have a sense of freedom.
Who are your biggest influences?
Artists from all walks of life from different genres. I love hearing about their creative process and how similar we all are even though what we make looks or sounds different. Reading or looking at the biographies of musicians of some of the greats, I don’t necessarily have to enjoy what they create but it’s their story and process that inspires me.
Finish these sentences
My favourite place to travel is the Central Coast.
I lose track of time when I’m painting and in flow.
I can read Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert over and over again.
These 3 adjectives describe my life right now: Quiet, Contemplative, Curious
My go-to music is Fleetwood Mac, Vance Joy, anything relaxing.
All imagery provided by Lauren and taken by Nikita Cherry Style and Photography
Follow Lauren Danger on Instagram
Shop her art at www.laurendanger.com
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