Artist Laura Stevens is seen at her workspace in Humble Beginnings Brewing Co. in Ingleside during the 2023 Apples & Art Studio Tour.  Thompson Goddard Photo

FINCH – Laura Stevens is an artist who combines an active lifestyle with her creative abilities to create visual memories for her clients of historical, personal and wildlife with her art. Her studio is located at 23 Victoria Street in Finch and at this location, clients can see and purchase her original paintings.

“I opened Victoria Street Studios (VSS) about five years ago, when we renovated the front part of our house to accommodate a studio space for my artwork,” she mentioned. At that time the decision was made by Stevens to become a full-time artist, with the VSS providing a space for her to create her work as well as providing “a small gallery space for individuals to come and view the artwork, discuss projects, etc.”

Inspired by colour, she explained being drawn to abstract work, using “interesting combinations of colours to make the subject stand out.” Stevens mentioned the element of realism she uses provides the opportunity for the person viewing her art to “make sense of what they are seeing.” She commented how “animals are a great way to explore this idea.”

“I have been really fortunate to have an amazing stream of steady commission work for years, it would be hard to choose one! I’ve painted many pets over the years, they are always fun to work on,” said Stevens, before noting one of her first pieces which featured a seagull painting which was her “first real venture into abstracted animals, and it is a really intriguing piece.”

Her creative style sees the use of large grouting spades and putty knives as her brushes and are created from the use of acrylic paint on canvas. Using brushes when adding finer detail, she mentioned preferring “the hard edges of the metal tools to maneuver the paint about.”

“The support for artists is really strong in this community,” said Stevens. She mentioned she has done many commission pieces over the years, noting that her success can be attributed in part to the “encouragement and projects from everyone in the area. It is truly appreciated, and I am forever thankful.

Her commissions include a historical mural of St. Andrews West which is displayed on a building behind the Cornerstone Convenience Store in that South Stormont community. Stevens was the winner of the poster competition for the 2015 International Plowing Match and Rural Exhibition and a mural of this work hangs on the building adjacent to the McLean Block Park at the corner of Main and Church streets in Finch. Earlier this year, she created the head of Rocky, the stone rock winding it’s way through that park to the delight of residents.

Noting how she enjoys “the freedom to create work that I like, and having others like it,” she mentioned how a blank canvas offers the opportunity to decide “how to bring it life.” Another enjoyable aspect of her life as an artist is there is always something new to explore and discover. Stevens mentioned she enjoys holding workshops throughout the region that enables clients to learn and develop their artistic abilities.

More information can be found on the Facebook page of Victoria Street Studios as well as the VSS website located at www.victoriastreetstudios.com upon its completion.

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