Laura Ferrari

Year of birth: 1992.
Where do you live: In Belgium.
Your education: Master’s in Law and Notarial Studies.
Describe your art in 3 words: dreamlike, serenity, softness.
Discipline: acrylic painting on canvas.
Instagram

Your artistic journey began in childhood, but you later pursued a career in law. What was the turning point that brought you back to painting?

In reality, the return of creativity in my life happened gradually. I started painting again in 2016, at the beginning of my professional career. Several evenings a week, I felt the need for a creative outlet. I would set up on my terrace or at my living room table and enjoy painting flowers, small animals, etc. using watercolor. Then, in 2020, lockdown happened. A tidal wave that, on a collective scale, forced us to confront ourselves and gave us time to refocus. It was at that moment that I reconnected with my childhood dream of becoming a painter. I truly immersed myself in creation and took numerous online courses. Since then, I haven’t stopped taking steps toward realizing that goal: sharing my work on Instagram since October 2021, taking part in exhibitions, opening my online store, and so on.

How do your experiences as a lawyer influence your artistic perspective or creative process?

I believe that my experience as a jurist has nurtured my “why.” If I hadn’t been anxious because of my job, I probably wouldn’t have searched so diligently for serenity through art. This experience led me on a quest for freedom and inner peace that I now want to share through my art. This is reflected in the soft shades of blues, greens, or purples, and the emphasis on movement, symbolizing the freedom I was perhaps seeking, in contrast to my former, much more structured profession.

Your works are described as dreamlike and poetic, evoking serenity and gentleness. How do you balance these qualities with your personal emotions or stress when creating?

These qualities correspond to the intention I put into creating my paintings. I see creation as a cathartic process that allows me to transform negativity into something positive—to alchemize my emotions and stress into works that soothe and convey gentleness and serenity.

You draw inspiration from Impressionist masters like Monet and Morisot. What specific aspects of their work resonate with you most?

I particularly resonate with the Impressionists, especially in their use of color and light. I’m deeply moved by the emotions that emerge from their works. Monet’s Water Lilies are an endless source of inspiration because they are contemplative pieces that radiate a certain light and possess a universal beauty.

Nature plays a significant role in your art. Can you share a particular natural setting or moment that inspired a specific painting?

Nature inspires me because it has always been part of my life. I grew up near a beautiful park where I often went for walks. I remember my parents’ garden, the flowers my mother planted, and the smell of freshly mowed grass from my grandfather… There’s something slightly nostalgic about it. This subtly shows up in my work, with motifs evoking clouds, flowers, lakes, or even imaginary landscapes.

Your layering technique creates transparency and depth in your works. Could you describe your creative process from start to finish?

Before starting a collection, I create a mood board for inspiration, with a theme and the emotions I wish to convey. After this preparatory phase, I move on to painting on canvas, using acrylics. My creative process is very intuitive. I need small rituals to immerse myself in a state of flow: lighting a candle, listening to instrumental music (for instance, Chopin, Ludovico Einaudi, Hans Zimmer…). Practicing yoga and meditation also helps me reach this state more easily. I work on several canvases at once and apply a series of thin layers of paint. This process takes time. Layer by layer, my eye perceives which direction the canvas needs to go and how to refine the composition. I consider a painting finished when it seems to radiate light and evokes a special emotion in me, something close to bliss.

As a self-taught artist, what advice would you give to others pursuing their creative passions despite non-artistic careers?

I think I would advise listening to that little voice inside. Pay attention: does pursuing an artistic career answer an inner calling?

I would also advise being curious. There are so many resources, books on creativity, online courses, and so on. You have to draw on them and learn to sharpen your eye and your attention to see all the beauty around us.

In short, if you want to create, just do it. Don’t wait for anyone else’s approval. And most importantly, share it! If it feels good for you, it could also do good for others.