Lauren Roth
mynameislauren.com | @LaurenRothArt
Hawaii-based fine artist, Lauren Roth, has been creating for as long as she can remember. Layers of dreamy colors, organic shapes, and mixed mediums (watercolor, acrylic, ink, and paint markers, to name a few) invite you to explore her interpretation of the breathtaking scenery of her everyday surroundings. Although art is her passion, Lauren finds the most joy in making people smile through her work. Originally from New Jersey, Lauren received her BFA in Illustration from Savannah College of Art and Design. After college she worked as an artist for Whole Foods Market, in 2013 she made the leap to full time artist and started her own product line and design company. Her artwork can be found in multiple galleries, shops and boutiques across the Hawaiian Islands, mainland USA, and Japan. Scroll down to read our Q&A with Lauren for Artist Appreciation Month!
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Artist Appreciation Month Q&A
We caught up with Lauren this month in honor of Artist Appreciation Month for a quick Q&A and a peek behind the scenes at her process and inspiration behind her art!
What was the inspiration behind the “Over the Rainbow” Collection?
The inspiration for this collection was really a shared vision between me and Sara. I had just finished creating a colorful collection of new textiles that caught Sara's creative eye, so we connected, and together we turned those into the 6 patterns that make up the collection. We had been wanting to work together for years, and the timing and artwork finally lined up. It was very exciting! I think we both wanted to create something that was colorful and happy, and that embodied the joy that you feel when you see a rainbow, and all the natural beauty of Hawaii. Sara came up with the name for the collection, which really tied it all together perfectly.
My work includes a lot of rainbows, even if it's not an actual rainbow, my paintings have a rainbow hue to them. I use a lot of color! I've been practicing art daily for most of my life and have tried many different mediums throughout my career as a professional illustrator and designer. When I moved to Hawaii, my style evolved to be heavily inspired by the tropical environment around us. I really try to capture all of the colors and feelings into my work.
Watch Lauren's artistic process behind-the-scenes
What do you love about gift wrapping as an art form?
I have always loved wrapping gifts! I think as a creative, I can get really lost in the details of things, and wrapping gifts is one of those things. I love to take my time with it and make it something special. I like to pick flowers from the yard or make cute toppers out of excess paper to add that extra touch. Giving someone a gift is such a special thing to do, whether it's to celebrate, or as a thank you, or just because, I think it's a beautiful way to show someone you're thinking of them. And being presented with something that is wrapped nicely gives you an emotion before you even know what's inside!
What does living an eco-friendly lifestyle mean to you?
Living on an island, we are all very culturally aware and conscious of what we do and what impact that has on everything around us. We see so much natural beauty and want to do anything we can, big or small, to protect it. I have been focused on making more small changes in my personal life, in what I eat and where I shop, refilling at our local zero-waste store...buying Wrappily! It means a lot to me and I try to do the best I can daily. There really are so many little things you can do to help, even if you don't feel like it's making a difference, it is! Picking up trash, bringing reusable bags to the store. As a business, it's a struggle to find eco-friendly options for my art, so this partnership with Wrappily has definitely inspired me to source eco-friendly products for the other products I sell in our boutique and online store too.
What is the best way to support your work and your business?
Follow me on instagram @laurenrothart and sign up for my email newsletter at www.mynameislauren.com for exclusive offers and early access to sales! Sharing with your friends and family, or on social media is a huge support too. If you live near Kailua, be sure to follow my brick and mortar store @laurenrothartboutique.
Every August I hold my annual studio sale (This year, it starts on Friday August 6th). All original artwork ranging from unreleased paintings, to textile designs on torn watercolor paper and fun illustrations. Most of the art is on torn paper with my color palette included, making them extra unique! They are all ready to be matted and framed for a new life in a new home. They will only be available online for one week, so head to her online store now!
