My name is Laura Ledesma. I am a Southern California self-taught artist, born and raised in Mexico. I spent my childhood playing outside, and early on, became a very keen observer of my surroundings. My eyes are always wandering, finding, and seeking out color, shapes, lines, light and the beauty in all things.

Creativity has always come naturally to me and is reflected in everything I do-from the clothes I wear to the meals I cook. I have always painted, but it was not until I got married and moved to the states thirty three years ago, that I began to work as a painter. It all started with small pieces of furniture that I found at flea-markets and thrift stores that I would paint with flowers, animals and different characters to make them look like they came out of a children’s book.

In 1997, a friend of mine who was pregnant at the time, asked me to paint what turned out to be my very first mural for her baby’s nursery. From then on, I became a full-time paid artist creating murals for the next eighteen years. During that time, I also taught Art and Spanish at several elementary schools in the area, as well as, privately to children and adults. In 2015, I made the decision to retire from painting murals and go back to painting on canvas again.That same year, I became a member of the Santa Clarita Artist Association (SCAA). And in 2019, I joined Woman Painters West (WPW).

I am a multi media artist who is captivated by faces, with an immense appreciation of color, nature, and the beauty of animals. Each new piece is a learning experience. I start my day, early in the morning, with yoga and meditation. One of my favorite things is having my morning coffee with my husband and taking time to watch the birds take a bath on our balcony. I try to paint at least three hours a day, working on more than one piece at the time.

The must-haves in my studio, apart from all the art tools and materials are: music, my i-pad, and the curtains pulled open to let the light in. When I’m painting, I get lost in the process of creating and time and the world outside disappears …All is Good!