Artist Statement

In my paintings I explore the interplay between my desire to be seen, known, exposed and the corresponding desire to be hidden, private, and protected. Painting gives me a place to wrestle with my desire for perfection and control. I strive to be honest and fearless and sometimes that is hard. I want to be taken seriously, as a painter, as a person, and to push myself to do hard things.

I am drawn to the darker beauty of nature…the starkness of late fall, the simplicity of a winter landscape, the coastline when conditions are bleak and the sun has no warmth. Sometimes I’m afraid to make dark paintings where someone might ask, “Where’s the sunshine?”

I work in both oil & cold wax and acrylic paint. Each painting has many layers and most often I wind up with too much information on the surface of the painting and have to be a ruthless editor. My best work happens when I’m willing to risk it all and parts of the painting that don’t serve the whole have to go. I get the paint on the canvas or board with brushes, pallet knives, string, paper towels or whatever is within arm’s reach that will achieve the effect I’m after.

Biography

Lauren Thiem is a contemporary mixed-media artist living in Meridian Idaho. After earning her B.A. in Women’s Studies from the University of Southern Maine and an M.A. in Clinical Psychology from New College of California, Lauren entered the business world and worked in San Francisco for the next two decades.

Starting in the late 90’s Lauren studied painting with Michael Cookinham at Merritt College in Oakland California. With Rebecca Crowell and Jerry McLaughlin she has taken international workshops and continues to study with them through their Cold Wax Academy. She has also studied with Nicholas Wilton through his Art2Life Academy.