Laurels Art  Studio 

Laurel DeFreece

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My inspiration comes from the native prairie where I live. This can be seen in my newest body of work containing my handmade paper. I call the collection, "Natural Elements." Trained as a graphic designer in the 1980's, attending Missouri Western with an emphasis on Printmaking, painting and photography. I continued my education in Paper making and Encaustic, educated at Arrowmont School of Arts and Joy Studio. In 2018 I created a new body of work containing elements from our prairie in my handmade paper. Heading into a bold new direction using native grasses and fibers, sticks and other found objects. With these materials I have made natural paper for prints, collages, 3D pieces, structures and encaustics with natural beeswax. My work as a whole explores my fascination with the prairie blome that surrounds my rural home in Plattsburg, MO. "Natural Element," shows how beautiful as well as fragile nature and our planet are, yet how strong even a piece of paper can be.