Moon 510 Before Contact

by Laura Lawson

“In my work, I look deeply into the environment of a world and try to tell its stories from its data. I read scientific publications and appreciate their unbiased observations, but I want to satisfy that human need for storytelling by translating what I learn into a visual experience. I draw and paint with meticulous detail to make entire planets feel like part of a precious collection. I use translucent materials for substrates as a connection to the human pursuit of discovery: allowing light to pass through and reflect upon the painted landscape illuminates what knowledge we have of these places. Where data is missing, I fill in with other cultural associations, using color and texture to evoke various mythologies and science fiction. By using both sides of the substrate, and adding additional layered pieces, I can expose the hidden layers of planets and moons that make them so unique.”