About the Artist

Laurie Asahara

Artist

"Draw this line, only as you feel it to be the most worthwhile act of your life." --Paul Reps

Laurie Asahara was raised on the Big Island of Hawaii and grew up within the vivid floral palette of the lush tropics. Laurie's art reflects her impressions of the areas of the Western U.S. where she has lived: Hawaii, the desert southwest, northern California, western Washington, and Idaho. A long time resident of Eagle, Idaho, Laurie works in watercolor, oil, acrylic, and gouache, and also enjoys taking her easel outdoors to paint plein air. While she has a great passion for portraiture, she also produces award winning landscapes, floral, and wildlife paintings. Laurie had an earlier career as a practicing attorney, but now devotes full time to her art.

_________________________________

Artist's Statement

I am a floral and portrait painter working predominantly in watercolor. This agile medium is ideal for layering pigment into luminous washes and creating stunning depth of color. Rendering the elements of sunlight, shadow, and reflected light with transparent pigment creates a fascinating dimensionality on the surface of the paper.

I strive to make my work captivate the viewer at first glance. I manipulate abstract shapes within organic forms to create optical cues that lead the eye through the composition via the interplay of shape, color, light, and shadow. My goal is to share my interpretation of natural forms, and invite people to see and feel the same excitement that I do. I developed a passion for the bold interplay of color as a child on the Big Island of Hawaii, a lush and vividly-hued environment.

My most recent floral paintings celebrate the newly authorized wine growing area of the state—The Snake River Valley American Viticultural Area. Grape growing is flourishing in Idaho and the succulent fruits and leafy vines are gorgeous subjects of my latest work. The portrait collection I’ve created reflects the broad range of people who comprise the fabric of the West . . . a glaring tank commander, a handsome champion bull rider, a venerable Idaho historian, a flamboyant rodeo queen, an artisan didjeridu maker, a cowboy fast draw shooter, and refugee children who have begun new lives here.

Artist Affiliations:

Distinguished Signature Member of the Idaho Watercolor Society.

Nampa Art Guild.

Plein Air Painters of Idaho.

Awards:

2015 Idaho Watercolor Society Juror's Choice Award, Gold Sponsor Award by The Keene-Curtis Charitable Foundation: "Jordan Valley Rodeo III."
2014 Nampa Art Guild 51st Annual Spring Show. People's Choice: "Boise River VI."
2013 Nampa Art Guild Juried Show. First Place: "Curley Calhoun."
2013 Western Idaho State Fair. First Place Wildlife/Animal: "Scott's Kingfisher."
2012 Idaho Watercolor Society Annual Show. First Place: "Curley Calhoun."
2012 Nampa Art Guild 50th Annual Spring Art Show. Judge's Choice: "Cimarron."
Museum of Eastern Idaho 2011 Biennial Idaho Paints Idaho Show. “Curley Calhoun” and “Cimarron.”
2011 Nampa Art Guild Centennial 26^th Juried Show. Merit Award: “Miss Rodeo Idaho.”
2011 Idaho Watercolor Society Annual Show/Traveling Show. Richseon Award: “Wiley Petersen.”
Western Idaho State Fair 2011. First Place Western: “Jordan Valley Rodeo.” Honorable Mention: “Essie’s Garden, Parma.” Honorable Mention: “Miss Rodeo Idaho.”
Idaho Watercolor Society 2010 Annual Show Golden Artists Colors Award “Idaho City Fast Draw.”
2010 Nampa Art Guild Centennial Juried Art Show. Silver Anniversary Award. “Magnolia Soulangiana.”
2010 Idaho Watercolor Society Initial Point Gallery Show. People’s Choice Award: “Curley Calhoun.”
Western Idaho State Fair 2009. Best Signature Style. Painting titled, “Bozo.”
Western Idaho State Fair 2009. First Place Painting: Animals/Wildlife. Painting titled, “Bozo.”
Western Idaho State Fair 2009. First Place Western. Portrait titled, “Idaho City Fast Draw”.
Western Idaho State Fair 2009. Second Place Portraits. Portrait titled, “Meridian Rodeo Queen”.
Nampa Art Guild 47^th Annual Spring Membership Show 2009. Judge’s Choice Award—portrait titled, “Arthur Hart”. Second Place—Portrait titled, “Meridian Rodeo Queen”.
Nampa Art Guild 2008 Centennial 23^rd Juried Art Show. D.L. Evans Bank Award of Merit, Portrait titled, “International Refugee Day”.
Western Idaho State Fair 2008. Best of Show. Portrait titled, “Justin McBride”.
Western Idaho State Fair 2008. First Place Painting: Western. Portrait titled, “Justin McBride”.
Western Idaho State Fair 2008. First Place Painting: Portraits. “10^th & Bannock”.
Idaho Watercolor Society 2008 Annual Show. Both of my paintings were juried into the show. A portrait titled “Didjeridu” received a top award and was also featured in the state wide traveling show.
2008 Nampa Art Guild 46^th Annual Spring Member Show. Juror’s Choice Award, floral titled, “Collected Wisdom”. First Place Advanced, Non-landscape Award, portrait titled, “En El Mercado”.
Idaho Watercolor Society Fall 2007 Open Show. Best of Show Award, portrait titled, “Guitar”.

Shows:

Smith & Coelho Show Off! 2013 Eagle, Idaho.
Idaho Watercolor Society 2012 Annual Show.
Initial Point Gallery, Meridian Idaho, April 2012.
Smith & Coelho Show Off! 2012 Eagle, Idaho.
Snake River Reflections Show, Herrett Museum, Twin Falls, Idaho, May 2012.
Art & Soul of the Magic Valley, April 26 - May 5, 2012, Twin Falls, Idaho.
Art Museum of Eastern Idaho 2011 Biennial Idaho Paints Idaho Show.
Smith & Coelho Show Off! 2011 Eagle, Idaho.
Solo Artist Show, Eagle City Hall Gallery, March 2010.
Solo Artist Show, St. Luke's Hospital Art Gallery, Eagle, Idaho, Gallery, April 2010.
Solo Artist Show, Eagle City Hall Gallery, September 2009.
Art Source Gallery 2009 Annual National Juried Show.
Idaho Watercolor Society 2009 Annual Show.
Idaho Watercolor Society 2009 Rotunda Show.
Idaho Watercolor Society 2009 Initial Point Gallery, Meridian City Hall.
Idaho Watercolor Society 2008 Annual Show.
Idaho Watercolor Society 2008 Rotunda Show.
Idaho Watercolor Society 2008 Spring Open Show.
2008 Nampa Art Guild 46^th Annual Spring Member Show.
2008 Nampa Art Guild Centennial Juried Show.
Idaho Watercolor Society 2007 Fall Open Show.
September 2007 Garden City Library Foundation, Books and Brushes Exhibition, 5-person, one month show.
2007 Nampa Art Guild Centennial Juried Show.
2006 Sierra Repertory Theatre Summer Art Show & Benefit Auction.

Art Publications:

Watercolor Magic Magazine, August 2007.
First Place, Portrait and Figure, 2007 Watermedia Showcase Online Competition, piece titled, “A Very Good Friend.”
Honorable Mention, Portrait and Figure, 2007 Watermedia Showcase Online Competition, piece titled, “Samantha.”
Eagle Magazine, Nov./Dec. 2007. One of three artists interviewed for an article spotlighting Idaho Watercolor Society artists living in Eagle. Three of the four photographs of paintings selected to accompany the article are my works.

Classes and Workshops:

Idaho Watercolor Society.
Nampa Art Guild.
Private watercolor portrait classes.

Gallery Representation:

Frameworks

     600 S Rivershore Ln # 120
     Eagle ID 83616
     (208) 939-7075

Formerly represented by The Coastal Gallery in Half Moon

Bay, California. I relocated to Idaho at the same time that the owner of the Gallery retired and closed the gallery.

Blog: http://laurieasahara.blogspot.com/

Website: https://laurieasahara.com/

FaceBook: Laurie Asahara--Portrait Artist-- https://www.facebook.com/pages/Laurie-Asahara-Portrait-Artist/123625257686724?ref=ts&fref=ts

Facebook: Idaho Watercolor Artists Fan Page -- https://www.facebook.com/pages/Idaho-Watercolor-Artists-Fan-Page/110399995652046?ref=ts&fref=ts

Contact Information:

laurie@laurieasahara.com/

[email protected]

208-608-0692