Bright Spots

In her light-filled SoPo studio, Laurie Fisher ponders, procrastinates, and eventually paints her arresting, organic-geometric works. 

Photographs by Meredith Perdue

I don’t recall the day I decided I would paint. I studied psychology in grad school, had kids young, and made being a mom my career. Ten years ago, I began painting with an artist friend in her house for fun. Later, we shared a studio and, slowly, I was spending all my free time there. Over the years, I resisted taking art classes because I was afraid that once I learned the ‘rules’ of painting, I’d follow them. But I spent a great deal of time reading and thinking about art. My current studio is a bright, windowed corner of the Huffard House interior design office in South Portland. On one wall, near a wonky easel, I hang works that are in progress. On another, I hang work that’s done or that I need space from — most paintings get stuck at some point in their evolution. It often takes me a while to get started. I sit and stare a lot. I procrastinate with my phone or by tidying up. When I put a little paint on the canvas, it creates a sort of problem, and I follow the work from there. I add paint; I subtract or layer over it. I scribble with an oil stick or use painters’ tape to reign in a piece. It’s a mystery to me how any of the work is resolved, and I’m grateful every time I arrive there.

Laurie Fisher’s work can be seen at lauriefisherstudio.com.

artist Laurie Fisher

ABOVE Color is my subject,” says Fisher, whose stools match her oil paintings. BELOW Unfinished works “simmer” in a corner.