Laura Whitmer paints not just to capture beauty but to hint at something beyond—something bigger, deeper, more lasting. She draws inspiration from a quote by Robert Henri:
“There are moments in a day, when we seem to see beyond the usual… If one could but recall his vision of some sort of sign. It was in this hope that the arts were invented… signposts toward greater knowledge.”
For Whitmer, every brushstroke is a kind of signpost, marking moments of hope in a world that carries its share of pain. Her mission? To create work that offers solace, a reminder that there’s more to existence than what meets the eye.
A Painter of Place and Feeling
Whitmer’s work is deeply tied to nature. She doesn’t just paint landscapes—she translates their essence onto canvas. “Shenandoah Valley,” for example, isn’t just a depiction of a sunset in Virginia; it’s a memory, a feeling, an invitation to step into a quiet moment. The piece, an oil on linen panel, was based on a photo she took while hiking. Evening light draped the mountains, shifting the sky to deep blues and warm golds. Using Cobra oil paints, medium, and glaze, she layered her vision onto the canvas, balancing realism with emotion.
Her process is straightforward. She takes photos, sketches, and then builds the painting in layers. But the real work isn’t in technique—it’s in finding the right balance between reality and the feeling she wants to convey. She’s not interested in photorealism; she’s interested in capturing the presence of a place, the weight of light, the stillness of a moment.
The Balance of Pain and Hope
Whitmer acknowledges that life isn’t just beautiful—it’s also heavy. She doesn’t shy away from this, but instead uses her art to create a counterbalance. “There is a lot of pain in the world balanced with hope,” she says. “I pray that I may impact the world by giving hope, because beauty marks a reality that something more exists.”
This belief runs through her work. Her landscapes aren’t just pretty scenes; they’re reminders. A glowing sunset, the hush of distant hills, the golden edge of a cloud—these things point to something bigger. They say, this moment matters, and there is more beyond it.
Her approach is minimal, both in process and philosophy. She doesn’t overcomplicate the message. She paints what moves her, what speaks to her, and she lets the viewer take from it what they will.
A Quiet but Intentional Approach
Whitmer’s work is rooted in observation, patience, and a sense of purpose. She’s not trying to chase trends or impress the art world. Her goal is simpler: to paint with honesty and to offer something of value.
Her materials reflect this approach. She works with oils, preferring their depth and fluidity. She builds layers with glazes, letting the light move through her paintings. She keeps her palette limited, allowing color to work naturally rather than overpowering the piece.
While she is focused on landscapes now, her work isn’t confined to a single subject. It’s about light, about time, about presence. Whether she’s painting a valley, a tree, or a sky just before dusk, the heart of her work stays the same: a quiet offering, a moment to pause, a signpost toward something more.
Whitmer’s paintings don’t demand attention. They don’t shout. Instead, they invite. They remind us to look a little longer, to breathe a little deeper, to remember that beauty—however fleeting—is always worth noticing.
