LAUREN CORY


Lauren Cory, a graduate of Kingston School of Art, draws inspiration from video games, natural landscapes, and abstract concepts. Her work explores everyday scenes with sensitivity, using vibrant colours and tactile materials to create dream-like worlds on the edge of reality and fantasy.

Working with drawing and printmaking techniques, including risograph, she captures life's essence through scenes of farm animals, retro gaming aesthetics, green lawns, and the gentle countryside. In this interview, Lauren shares her insights and artworks, highlighting the influence of the 'Painting Homes' workshop series on her artistic journey.



© 2024 Lauren Cory, made during the 'Painting Homes' workshop block.

THE INTERVIEW 


What inspired you to join these workshops as the Secret Workshopper, and what were your expectations beforehand?

I was a fan of Lucy’s work and her watercolour techniques, so I wanted to learn more about her process as well as gain more experience using watercolour. As an illustrator I wanted to discover new ideas of how to use watercolour in an illustration context, and the architecture themes of the workshop resonated with me and my practice. My expectations of the workshops was that I would have the space to experiment with watercolour and learn more about composing a scene using houses and their architecture.




© 2024 Lauren Cory, made during the 'Painting Homes' workshop block.

How did these workshops contribute to your artistic growth and development?

In my illustration practice, I like to look at themes of digital media in my work, such as pixel art and video game design, and the relationship between analogue materials in digital context. Lucy’s patchwork painting techniques have helped me discover a way I can translate my pixel art physically, with the same vibrancy and strength of digital colours. By learning more about the materials and using them more, it helped me stop overthinking a painting and showed me the value of creating something without detailed planning.





© 2024 Lauren Cory, made during the 'Painting Homes' workshop block.

Can you share any specific skills or techniques you learned during the workshops that you found particularly valuable? 
Specific skills I have found valuable in the workshops were how to apply more saturated colours and how to make the colours more vibrant using colour theory. Lucy provided helpful reminders in colour theory and materials and I could see my work improve from workshop to workshop as a result of these reminders.





© 2024 Lauren Cory, made during the 'Painting Homes' workshop block.

Did the workshops provide a supportive and engaging environment for learning and creativity? If so, how?


The environment was extremely supportive and engaging, and the set up of the classes worked well for me. Lucy showed us artistic references to help inspire ideas at the start of the class, then asked us to create sketches from artist references before starting our own compositions. I found it really helpful to have a structured creative process. Lucy’s feedback was also extremely helpful and personal, and I was able to reach out for further feedback from her outside of classes which I appreciated greatly.


© 2024 Lauren Cory, made during the 'Painting Homes' workshop block.

What aspects of the workshops did you find most enjoyable and rewarding?

I found looking at each other's work at the end of the class really rewarding, as we were able to see how each person interpreted the brief and used watercolour in different ways. The classes had a comfortable environment where we were invited to talk with each other if we wanted, and talking to the other artists and getting to know about their practice was really inspiring.




© 2024 Lauren Cory, made during the 'Painting Homes' workshop block.

In what ways did the workshops help you overcome any creative challenges or obstacles you were facing?

Before the workshops, I was struggling to find ways of translating my digital pixel drawings into physical works using analogue materials. These workshops helped renew my motivation and inspiration in using watercolour as a medium, and I am excited to start using them in my practice more. I was also struggling to start painting before, but the structure of the classes were really helpful in showing me new ways to structure my creative process.




© 2024 Lauren Cory, made during the 'Painting Homes' workshop block.

How has your perspective or approach to your art practice changed as a result of participating in these workshops?
My perspective on using watercolour has changed, and I have learnt that they can create very immediate and vibrant results which has inspired me to start taking them outside to draw from observation in my sketchbook. The workshops showed me how colour can be used to tell a story in paintings as well, and this is something I want to consider more in my future works.



© 2024 Lauren Cory, made during the 'Painting Homes' workshop block.


Did you find the workshop content relevant and applicable to your artistic goals and interests?

I found the content extremely relevant to my practice, as I work with similar themes and emphasis on colour. By learning how to use watercolour in the same way I use wax pastels and colour pencils, it has helped me discover a new medium to translate my practice to.

What advice would you give to someone considering attending a similar workshop series?

My advice would be to try to see your paintings through to the end as you might be surprised by the end results. You will always learn something from it whether the results are good or bad. Also not to overthink and to fall in love with the process instead of the outcome of the work.




© 2024 Lauren Cory, made during the 'Painting Homes’ workshop block.

Overall, how would you describe the impact of these workshops on your artistic journey?
Overall, the workshops helped me discover watercolour in a new way, using the techniques and advice Lucy gave us. They helped me consider new ways to translate my current illustration practice into physical pieces, and how to use colour to tell a story within the compositions. The workshops helped me discover more about myself as an artist, and what kind of creative processes work for me by giving us a calm and meditative space to find inspiration and create work in.




© 2024 Lauren Cory, made during the 'Painting Homes’ workshop block.