In June, artist Lauren Boop will be showing 12 colored pencil drawings inspired by the birthstones in an exhibit titled “Birthstone Broads.” Here’s one of the images to be displayed. (Submitted)
Artist Lauren Boop will be showing 12 colored pencil drawings inspired by the birthstones in an exhibit titled “Birthstone Broads,” on display in June at Just My Type Letterpress, 324 Second St., Eureka. An Arts Alive! reception is set for Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m.
The exhibit also includes a comical/educational description of each gemstone to make the show more fun and informative, Boop said.
Boop says she’s been drawing for as long as she can remember.
“My drawings are my attempt to tame the wild world with lines and shading. I am perpetually seeking perfection with every stroke, trying to capture the universe in two dimensions to create something new and beautiful,” said Boop, who started creating under the guidance of a “fine artist father and creative and encouraging mother.”
“It was their belief in me that led me to study art at the university level. I further honed my craft at California State University, Fullerton, graduating cum laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in drawing and painting,” she said.
Since moving to Humboldt County in 2008, Boop has had dozens of local art shows.
“I even got the awesome opportunity to participate in the Eureka Utility Box beautification project in 2018,” she said. “My box is in front of the Finnegan & Nason Building in Henderson Center.”
Along with drawings, Boop has shown work in many different mediums, including: wood burnings, fine line pen and ink drawings, colored pencil, charcoal drawings and even jewelry.
“My art has evolved over the years, largely due to the influence of gorgeous Humboldt County and its vibrant artist community. Until recently, highly detailed pencil drawings of animals have been my obsession. For this show, I wanted to challenge myself to make the best human drawings I have ever done. I achieved this with a combination of photo reference and my ‘photosurreal’ style of rendering,” she said.
The “Birthstone Broads” are created in rich vivid colors, and all the drawings in the collection are colored pencil drawings on Bristol board.
“As a magpie, I have always been obsessed with all that glitters, and my favorite colors are all in this collection,” Boop said. “I even included some fun facts about each gemstone because I love to learn random facts and share them.”
