At Art To Frames, we pride ourselves on having one of the largest online collections of custom picture frames. Our large selection makes it possible for amazing artists like Laurie Anne Gonzalez to create artwork of any size and find a perfect frame.  Whether you’re starting your next framing project or looking for a gift idea, Laurie Anne's artwork is the statement piece you need to get started.

Laurie Anne shares what inspires her and why she chooses Art To Frames

I am an acrylic painter who moved to Phoenix, AZ in 2014 and instantly fell in love with the desert landscape. The colors and texture have been a source of endless inspiration for my work.  My husband and I love to travel and I create work inspired by my travels as well. I create large-scale acrylic paintings from my kitchen studio and also paint what I call “tiny landscapes”, which are my favorite size to paint, as well as, a collector favorite.

What’s your background? Did your upbringing prompt a specific reference point within your work? 

I come from a creative family and was always in art classes growing up, but it wasn’t until I was 13 years old that I picked up a paintbrush on my own. My mom bought painting supplies for my dad, with all the bells and whistles of everything one could possibly need to get started with painting and I got into it before he even had a chance! I then went on to take as many art classes as I could, ended up getting my college degree in painting, and eventually made a career out of it. 

It wasn’t until I moved out to Arizona and was surrounded by the most colorful warm desert with the most interesting textures of all the desert plants, that I just HAD to paint it.

What story are you trying to tell with your artwork?

When I paint, I am trying to capture the beauty of the way I see the world. I have always felt very connected to nature and overwhelmed by its beauty. I always say I see in color. Meaning, the objects I see are made up of many subtle colors, textures, and shadows and I just can’t help but try to put that on canvas. I see everything the way I would paint or draw it.

How does Art To Frames play a role in your artwork / why do you choose Art To Frames for your artwork?

I have used and recommended Art to Frames maple wood frames to frame my canvas prints for years. They are such nice frames and at an excellent price point! Thankful to have something I can rely on when making recommendations to collectors!

Who are your biggest influences?

I am greatly inspired by Vincent van Gogh. While his artwork is beautiful, his story is what really inspires me. He started painting later in life and painted how he saw things regardless of the criticism he received from his contemporaries.

I also really love Picasso’s constant change in subject matter and style. When you look at Picasso’s early work and see how “perfect” it was, but then you see this shift throughout his life where he got more experimental, it makes me excited for the constant change that comes with being an artist and helps me to not hold on too tightly to what I’m doing “now” so I can keep growing and moving forward.

Monet is also a huge inspiration aesthetically. I love his paintings and how he simply captured the idea of what he saw with simple brush strokes and colors, without actually trying to paint them as “realistic.”

What is something you have created that you are most proud of and why?

Oh, this is a hard one, I love so many for different reasons! I would have to say, Desert Glory is the piece I’m most proud of to date. It’s the largest desert painting I’ve done (36″ x 48”) and it just really captures what I see when I look out into my beloved desert. I had the hardest time letting it go but it was too big to live in my house!