Laurel Stratton-Toft

Visual Art – Portland

I am a creative person by nature. When I\'m on the beach I draw in the sand. When I\'m sitting on the floor I move the dirt into patterns and shapes. When I\'m in the woods I find interesting treasures, bringing them home as inspiration. I see art in everything around me. As a child I was consistently drawing, it was my natural state. I started taking art classes at a young age, starting with drawing and watercolor. In high school I was enrolled in at least one art class if not two per term, and was also taking community college art courses in the evenings. I studied studio art at Lewis & Clark College, leaving after 3 years knowing that the academic environment was not for me. Since college I have explored many paths of creativity. I have painted, made jewelry, did photography, and leather work. But in the end my heart lies with painting. When I am painting my soul is happy.