Laurie Basham is a pastel artist who enjoys capturing the beauty of color found in light and shadow, whether it’s a landscape, figure or still-life. Laurie is always searching for new ways to view the world, constantly seeking interesting angles and patterns of shape and value. She is captivated by objects lit from behind, where the light creates a glowing halo effect. Her goal is to illuminate the beauty of everyday life through the medium of pastel.
A native of Rockville Maryland, Laurie received her Degree in Art Education from the University of Maryland in 1985. After an award winning career as an Art Educator in Howard County Maryland, she retired in 2019. Since retirement, Laurie has been enjoying being a full time artist and has received awards in several plein-air competitions, as well as acceptance into several national and international shows. Laurie received the Portrait/Figure Award in The Pastel Society of the Southwest’s 39th National Juried Exhibition as well as a Member’s Choice Award at the Piedmont Pastel Society’s 2020 Member’s Show. In 2021 Laurie received the Pastel Painters of Cape Cod Award in the Maryland Pastel Society’s Symphony in Pastel Juried Members Show as well as a Juror’s Exceptional Merit Award in the Left Coast Pastel Painters Society’s International Show.
Laurie is a member of the Pastel Guild of Europe, the Degas Pastel Society, the Pastel Society of North Carolina, a Juried Associate Member of the Pastel Society of America and a signature member of the Maryland Pastel Society. She is past President of the Piedmont Pastel Society. She is also an active member of the Associated Artists of Winston Salem and the Carolina Painters’ Guild.