Clover Laurier
Tell us a little bit about you?
I have worked in the community sector, homelessness, mental health, addiction, and disability for over 20 years. In all of those roles, I have been able to implement a level of creativity, for marketing purposes, events, social programs, and social media campaigns. This stems from my love of art and creativity since a very young age. My mother was an artist and taught me to be patient with the process and push the boundaries of what the general public consider art. I was accepted for a Fine Arts Degree once finishing high school however the pressures of wanting to "earn real money" sucked me into a 9-5 job. But I never let go of my creative side. I'd always be making jewelry for friends, sewing for my son, painting, or drawing all over anything I could get my hands on. But I never shared my artwork publicly.
I now run a business at home, supporting people with complex mental health issues. The pressures of this role (even though I enjoy it immensely) confirmed my need to have a creative outlet. My illustrations and painting provide me with the perfect outlet to unwind and become grounded after a hard day of work; it is integral to my day-to-day. I have discovered that I have more confidence in my artwork, stemming from years of practice, maturity (aging), and my success in other fields. Hence I developed Art Integral, where I share my artwork globaly in an online store.
When I reflect on the past, I never thought I would be in this position, and am so grateful that I never gave up on my creative spirit and am now in a place where I am able to share my work and have it as an integral part of my life.
What is your favourite drink?
Coffee - always coffee - STRONG coffee... and if it's not coffee, it's Baileys, the Irish man's coffee....
What inspired you to start painting/drawing?
I dropped out of Fine Arts over 30 years ago to earn 'real money' and only just picked up a paintbrush again in May of 2022.
I run a small business from home, overseeing 14 staff with over 110 cleints and it can be quite intensive. I found that I needed a creative outlet to calm my nerves so I began to paint and draw every day. Being creative helps me feel grounded like a type of therapy. I can switch off from work pressures and get lost in the creative process.
How can we support you?
I am building a range of products, hoodies, tee shirts, brooches etc, and have a collection of art prints for sale. I love the thought that people can see and potentially wear my work!
What advice would you give other artists/creatives starting out?
Just go for it. Do what makes you feel good. You possibly won't like every piece you do and that is ok... Don't be hard on yourself... Have fun with it and see where it takes you.
You can see more of Clover’s amazing work here.