Exploring Tactile Landscapes and Memory in Abstract Painting with Laurén Gerig

Podcast
Written By Create! Magazine

Have you ever felt an immediate, overwhelming urge to capture a fleeting moment in nature before the feeling completely slips away? We often try so hard to hold onto the places we pass through, and our latest podcast guest translates that exact tension into vibrant, expressive paintings.

In this episode of the Create! Podcast, Kat sits down with Laurén Gerig, a brilliant visual artist based in Lansing, Michigan. Laurén holds an MFA in Studio Art from Michigan State University, where she currently balances her creative practice with her demanding role as the Director of Galleries and Outreach. Her captivating paintings explore landscape, memory, and how we respond to our current environments through bold color and dynamic mark-making.

Here is a look into what we covered during our conversation.

Capturing the Psychology of Place

Laurén traces her deep connection to the natural world back to her childhood summers spent in the rocky, remote woods of Northern Ontario. Today, her abstract work is rooted in capturing the psychological and cognitive bonds we create with the environments we pass through.

She identifies as a true painter's painter, embracing the highly tactile and physical nature of her medium. By building up thick layers of paint and carving into the surface, she aims to evoke not just what a landscape looks like, but how it physically feels to be immersed in it.

Poetry as a Studio Ritual

Transitioning from a busy day into a focused studio session can be a challenge for any creative. Before she picks up a brush or mixes her colors, Laurén relies on reading poetry to set the emotive stage for her work.

She frequently turns to the works of Mary Oliver, Kay Ryan, and Linda Pastan. These writers masterfully imbue a sense of magic and transcendence into everyday moments, which helps Laurén bridge the gap between a poignant memory and a blank canvas.

Sustaining Momentum Through Micro-Moments

Working as an artist while directing three busy university gallery spaces requires immense energy. Between carrying a drill, installing student exhibitions, and managing daily administrative tasks, finding the physical stamina for large-scale painting can sometimes feel daunting.

To avoid burnout, Laurén breaks her studio practice down into approachable micro-moments.

  • Embracing Small Scale: When large canvases feel too exhausting, she turns to 20-minute charcoal drawings or tearing paper for collages to keep her hands moving.

  • Physical Resets: She relies heavily on running as a complete physical and mental reset to clear the noise of her workday.

  • Honoring the Famine Phase: She reminds her students and herself that even when you are not actively producing finished work, you are still observing, absorbing, and gathering material for the future.

Listen to the Full Episode

This conversation is a beautiful reminder that a thriving art practice is not always about long, uninterrupted hours in the studio. It is about showing up in the small moments, trusting your intuition, and allowing your environment to shape your work.

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