Featured Artist Laura Moser: Ethereal Abstracts Rooted in Appalachian Nature

# Overview Laura Moser's work consists of ethereal abstract paintings that draw on the Appalachian landscape where she lives in Western North Carolina. She uses natural imagery—trees, wildflowers, birds—and textual passages to suggest emotional states and personal resilience rather than to depict literal scenes.

# begins and develops Each painting starts with what Moser describes as chaos: an intuitive release of paint, marks, layers, and movement. That initial, unresolved stage is built into the piece. Over time the surface evolves into quieter, more intentional passages. Layering, subtle texture, repeated marks, and areas of text create a visible history on the canvas.

Moser frames a compositional tension she seeks in every work: calm versus energy, fragility versus power, order versus disorder. Her process is both gestural and reflective—an action-based beginning that later yields controlled, metaphor-rich outcomes.

# Recurring themes and symbols Trees, wildflowers, birds, and shifting light recur throughout Moser's paintings as stand-ins for human experience: endurance, growth, connection, and the wisdom carried across generations. The hummingbird appears as a symbol of hidden power and resilience, while ancient trees suggest long-term strength.

# Series and notable works

• "The Essential Truth of Trees" (acrylic, 36" x 48") emphasizes trees as carriers of endurance and wisdom.

• "September Wildflowers" (acrylic, 60" x 60") channels the landscape's color and quiet energy without literal depiction.
• "Hummingbird 12" (acrylic, 60" x 48") centers on small but potent natural forces.
• The Mantra Series integrates repeated written phrases into layered surfaces.
• Series uses delicate dress forms and mixed media in large-scale panels (for example, works around 68" x 40") to honor understated female influence and strength.

# Materials and palette Moser primarily works in acrylic and mixed media. She favors a restrained palette anchored by raw umber, Payne's gray, and soft neutrals. Those subdued tones are intentionally interrupted by moments of unexpected color and light to create visual contrast and emotional warmth.

# Intent and viewer experience Moser describes her paintings as invitations to pause and reflect. She hopes viewers find reassurance amid complexity and the sense that uncertainty can coexist with resilience and meaning. Her concluding statement in the feature is a simple affirmation: Everything will be OK.

# Where to see more Instagram for more of her portfolio and updates.