Well, well, well! Look who’s stumbled upon the ultimate page for a Leo – the about me section!
Hey there, I’m Laura Thurston, currently stationed in the wild whirlwind of Long Island, New York, alongside my husband and our wonderful Bernedoodle. Living in New York is like being in a constant circus of creativity – there’s always something new to explore and inspire my artistic side. But let me tell you, before this chaotic bliss, I dwelled in the serene land of Suffolk, VA.
I honed my craft as a photographer, specializing in capturing the essence of families in perfect portrait form. I worked my magic in a department store studio, snagging the title of top photographer two years running. My hard work is published on the company’s site, still wowing viewers today. Along with getting along with just about anyone, sales was my playground. Detail-oriented, prop setter, and a pro at wrangling even the wildest of family photo ops was the most rewarding job I had.
After twelve fulfilling years behind the lens, I felt the pull to venture beyond the confines of the studio and explore new horizons. Thus began my unexpected journey into the realm of aviation. Despite never having set foot in a helicopter, I found myself soaring through the skies taking photos for work. A feat that surprised both me and the onlookers. This adventure opened doors to a national adventure, where I had the privilege of capturing the essence of small-town America and really learned a lot about the world of aviation.
During my downtime from the helicopter, I expanded my curiosity and my creativity. Taking photos that captured my attention and I wanted to share with anyone that wanted to see. The places and things that caught my eye were beautiful and peaceful. Spray paint became my experimental project and sold my first piece of art. With the spray paints I focus on creating different worlds of light and blending colors together, pushing my “what if curiosity.” On rainy days or too cold to be outside spray painting, I explored watercolors, palette, pastels, and acrylic ink. I was thirsty for creating the pieces that danced around in my head that needed to be out in the world.
With limited time I could fly the helicopter, I embraced and delved into flying drones and learned all the part 107 regulations to become a pilot. I love telling stories to my loved ones and when a story appeared to me, I would plan out my plot and start filming with my drone. This turned into my learning how to create, edit, and publish videos on YouTube. Practice gave me the ability to explore all these great avenues.
Once I had my fair share of helicopter adventure, flying 300 feet at 20 knots sounds fun, the dangers outweighed the fun. I grounded myself and set my sights on the next big adventure. What could possibly top flying in a helicopter? NASA!
I have worked for NASA for 3 years as a Risk Manager for flight projects. I am proud to say my efforts are helping us reach the moon and beyond. While I dive into serious discussion with the brains at NASA, my creative side purrs like a cat. I am expanding my drawing skills and freelancing on a building project helping NASA display their history.
To satisfy my appetite for art, I am studying art and art history, diving deep into the world of art to fuel my creativity and explore new horizons. Leaning into the theory of color and the history of how color has evolved.
I’ve been lucky enough to travel across continents, soaking up the cultures, religions, and delicious foods from Canada to Europe. These trips have shown me how art can vary outside of America’s borders. With more travel plans in the works, I’m excited to explore ancient art in Japan and immerse myself in color theory in Thailand.
Thanks for visiting my site. I hope you were able to find what you were meant to see from my art. There will always be more from me.
