Plants have long been a source of inspiration for artists, representing everything from growth to beauty and strength of spirit. For artist Lauren Knight, her home garden is very much tied to her artwork. “I grow what I love, ranging from colors and textures to layers and even composition,” she says, explaining how she selects plants. While a hosta might offer bushy layers, an iris could produce a slender figure topped off with a pretty bloom. Beauty, even in the garden, lies in the eye of the beholder, which is why Knight photographs her garden in all states and seasons, then draws inspiration from those photos. “Oftentimes, I will paint an exact scene from the pictures I take, or a certain scene will inspire me to hone in on a color story.”
Knight’s artistic style leans into illustrative realism. And she is heavily influenced by children’s book illustrations, she says. Though her subject matter is realistic, she hopes to convey a whimsical quality that doesn’t feel too serious in that her work brims with vivid colors, interesting figures and plants, and scenes that feel alive. Her series of still life paintings that include flower arrangements on top of a stack of her favorite books, for example, seem to jump off the page.
While she never went to school for art, Knight has been creative her whole life. “It has always presented as a strong pull to share how I see the world, and at times it feels urgent,” she explains. “I have talked with other creatives about this phenomenon, and it seems to be a consistent feeling across many creative fields.” The impulse to create art wasn’t one she could easily ignore.
Self-taught, she learned to paint through trial and error and observation. But it definitely helped growing up in a family where art was valued and discussed often, she says. “My father was a photographer and fine arts professor, and my childhood home was often filled with various artists from many disciplines and walks of life. It was a wonderful way to grow up.”
For Knight, painting is a way to share a vision or appreciation of the natural world. “Most of all, I take considerable joy in witnessing others connecting with my work,” she says. Some of the most meaningful moments in her career so far have been interactions she’s had with individuals who are touched by a particular piece and reach out to tell her how it speaks to them. “It is such a beautiful reminder of how connected we all are.”
