52: Painting and Possibilities with Laura Menzies

Freedom of choice and taking up all opportunities are just two of the topics I chat about with visual artist Laura Menzies in episode 52 of An Art to It.
From a multidisciplinary arts degree and early love of dance to developing a distinctive painting practice in Cornwall, Laura shares her creative business journey; and reveals how studying, teaching and later completing an MA in Fine Art helped her refine her artistic voice.
We also discuss the reality of building a creative business: learning the business side on the job, approaching and working with galleries, and the inventive collaborations that have helped Laura reach new audiences, including projects with Celtic & Co celticandco.com and Neptune neptune.com.
Laura speaks openly about growing in confidence, learning to market herself in ways that feel aligned, and the value of staying open, flexible and resilient in a creative career.
Topics covered
• Laura's early creative life and multidisciplinary arts degree

• Why visual art, rather than performance, became her focus

• Moving to Cornwall and the draw of the coast and creative community

• How her painting practice developed during and after her MA at Falmouth

• Landscape, memory, movement and "visual poetry" in her work

• Learning the business side of being an artist

• Building confidence in promoting and talking about her work

• Collaborating with Celtic & Co on a range of clothes using her painting

• Using books, branding and beautifully styled imagery as part of her business

• Growing into a more entrepreneurial mindset

• Her thoughts on success, freedom and creative choice

• Advice on resilience, flexibility and running a successful creative business

You can see Laura's work at lauramenzies.co.uk and on instagram she is @lauramenziesart