May Cover ArtistCover Artist: Lauren Bone    

Born and raised in Zimbabwe, Lauren’s paintings are greatly influenced by early memories in remote areas of her homeland. Taught by her father and world-renowned artist, Craig Bone, Lauren has developed an ultra realistic painting style, capturing every detail of Africa’s most revered animals. She currently exhibits her artwork in Higgins Harte International Gallery in Hawaii and in the African Wildlife Art Gallery online. Inspired by her most recent reference trip to Kanchanaburi, Thailand, Lauren is presently working on a series of tiger paintings that she hopes will shed light on the sacredness of these endangered creatures.

thalo: There’s a lot going on in your piece Mr. Polka Dots. Can you tell us a little about it?

Lauren Bone: : Mr. Polka Dots is authority. A balding icon of knowledge and ambition, he leads by command and strength of will. The formality of his dress code from a bygone era demands respect. His tie, black and white, good and evil, hangs menacingly around his neck, like a noose of conscience. Mirroring this, with a look of foreboding above his right shoulder is a child of struggled learning, while above him, self-elevated, is the child of broken self-illusion. The third child listens deep in thought, eyes gazing down with an eye on the future. The flower is the future Mr. Polka Dots holds in his hand; the path is challenging and few can manage the journey but it is bright and hopeful in the end.

th: : You were raised in Zimbabwe and much of the work on your site (www.laurenbone.com) is very detailed paintings of African wildlife. How did you hone your photo-realistic painting technique?

LB: I was raised in a very artistic environment, surrounded by photographs, paint brushes, oil paints and hundreds of canvases. My father, Craig Bone, is my primary inspiration and my realistic painting technique has been shaped by his mentorship. He is an eccentric artist with an intense passion for capturing life on canvas. I have watched him paint everything from elephant, Kings, seascapes to battle scenes from Vietnam. From an early age I recognized that painting and creating were essential parts of who I am. Living in a household that had all the materials and resources I needed allowed me to nurture and develop my dream of one day becoming an artist.

th: Each style of art has its own challenges; what do you find the most difficult about creating or selling extremely realistic art? 

LB: Composition may be the single most important aspect of realistic art. When I start a painting I may not know exactly where it is going but I must ensure there is a circular motion and movement that allows the viewer to feel at ease looking at the piece. What I find the most difficult about creating realistic art is attention to detail; every object in the painting must be given the time and understanding it needs, a small and seemingly insignificant pebble in the foreground of a painting can be a force of distraction for a viewer if its shadow, color or shape is off. Before anything else though, it is necessary to understand your own strengths and weaknesses as an artist and emphasize what makes you unique and talented.

th: What would you tell students or recent graduates who are hoping to pursue careers in painting?

LB:  I would recommend compiling a portfolio of your work that has a consistent style and ‘voice’ and try get into a gallery. Being represented by a gallery provides a foothold into the art market and a degree of legitimacy and exposure.

th: Other than painting, are there creative pursuits that you enjoy?

LB:  I have been working as a wildlife artist for the past few years and have recently become interested in illustration because it allows me to express my ideas and emotions through art. “Mr. Polka Dots” is one of my first ventures into illustrating and I am excited to see where it goes from here. I have also recently started pottery as another way to express and challenge myself artistically.

To see more of Lauren Bone's work visit www.laurenbone.com.