Throughout the CSRA, local Lauren Jones’ artistic touch appears in countless places and across a wide range of canvases. Whether on a storefront window, a school’s spirit rock, or tucked inside a private party, Lauren tailors every painting to reflect her client’s personality and vision. In this month’s Q&A, the owner of Wild & Free Paint Company shares a peek into her life as a local artist.
How did you get started painting?
I first realized that I was interested in art in high school when I was taking art classes, but I really didn't do anything with it until my adult years. When my oldest was about two years old, I went to a Sip and Dip, where you would have appetizers and drinks while painting. Everybody would tell me how good I was at painting and I thought, “Oh my gosh, I could do this.” From there, I started doing things for fun and then posting them on social media. People started asking me to make them things and paying me and it became a little business. It has just evolved from there.
What do you love about what you do?
I really love being able to bring people's visions to life and be part of special moments in their lives. It may be a proposal when I'm painting ‘will you marry me’ on an ornament and that is something they're going to have for the rest of their lives.
What types of painting projects do you do?
I paint a lot of business windows in the CSRA and spirit rocks at local schools for students’ birthdays. I make banners for events - birthdays, baby showers, wedding showers, bridal showers, and graduations. I also paint door hangers for all seasons.
What other creative projects do you do?
I’m known for doing calligraphy and artistic handwriting for wedding and party invitations as well as chalkboard and acrylic signs for weddings. I also do watercolor paintings. I have two Augusta watercolor prints that are very popular, especially in the spring, and I’ve done commissions to paint people’s homes.
Tell us more about the Love Story Board.
It’s a personalized watercolor map-like painting of a couple’s love story. It starts with where you met then continues to your first date, when you got engaged, your wedding, your honeymoon, and your children. A Love Story Board is one of my favorite things to do. It's so special to people because it tells their love story and, really, their life story. It's something that they likely have displayed in their home and it’s so personal.
What is your favorite type of project?
I would say painting storefront windows, because it's so fun to get out there and make a blank canvas come to life. It is big, bold, and eye-catching and it's just fun. I enjoy doing seasonal windows for the holidays, the golf tournament, and spring/summer. It’s also fun to do more permanent storefronts paintings for businesses that just want to spruce up the storefronts and bring their windows to life.
What are a few currents trend you’re seeing?
It's the new thing now for senior girls to wear painted jeans on Fridays, so I've done a lot of senior jeans recently. I have also painted jeans for moms of cheerleaders to wear for competition days. Not long ago, I painted a jean jacket as well – so lots of painting denim.
It has also been popular for the past couple of years for me to paint megaphones for the senior cheerleaders at Harlem High School. They are personalized and they use them at home games, so it’s a fun keepsake.
What are your goals for the future?
My dream is to have an art studio storefront where I can provide a location for people to gather and share the same interest and love that I have for art. I'd like to be able to have camps for kids and art parties for women… there are all kinds of possibilities.
To see a gallery of Lauren’s work and connect with her, follow Lauren Jones and Wild & Free Paint Co. on Facebook or call/text 762-358-9469.
I really love being able to bring people's visions to life and be part of special moments in their lives.
A Love Story Board is one of my favorite things to do. It's so special to people because it tells their love story and, really, their life story. It's something that they likely have displayed in their home and it’s so personal.