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Going Nowhere Fast

Posted on March 7, 2011 by Laurie — 4 Comments ↓

I’ve found it interesting that when on paint outs with other artist friends, men tend to paint the cars in a street setting into their paintings, while women often leave them out, myself included. Still, as an artist I find I am drawn to the rusty old hulks of vehicular history. The first painting I am showing you here is a new one – “Going Nowhere Fast”. It is 14 x 18, and will be among those I will be showing at the Western Masters Art Show, March 16-19 in Great Falls, MT. I love the combination of the vehicle that implies (or once implied) movement, and the tree that says, “No there won’t be any of that!”

I had done a similar painting a year or so ago, the second one shown here. It is called “Opportunitree” and was inspired by an actual car and tree combo I spotted when driving through the countryside. That painting was chosen as one of the Top 100 in the Paint America Top 100 Competition for the year 2009.

I do have a lot of fun painting these old vehicles! I have a couple more in mind, both involving old trucks I have come across. I had hoped to get then done for this show, but don’t think it’s going to happen as I’m out of time!

Going Nowhere Fast 14 x 18

Opportunitree 16 x 20

Posted in Paint America Top 100 Competition, Western, Western Masters Art Show & Sale
4 comments on “Going Nowhere Fast”
  1. Christine McKay says:
    March 7, 2011 at 8:59 AM

    Wonderful new painting, Laurie! Like you, I love old vehicles when they turn to the earth & become so elemental. Then, to see a little sapling setting up house. How cool is that?! Hope you can continue to do more…

  2. Ann Malmlund says:
    March 7, 2011 at 3:23 PM

    These remind me of the wonderful days we had painting at Marysville…I think that was the name of that old mining town. There was a great old car up there in a field. Good memories! Ann

  3. Gary Stockbridge says:
    March 26, 2011 at 6:08 PM

    I love your work. I have a Facebook page that’s growing pretty fast. If you want me to link some of your paintings for sale. Let me know. Facebook. America by Motorcycle

  4. Gary Stockbridge says:
    March 27, 2011 at 2:19 PM

    Thank you. Sincerely, Gary Stockbridge

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Laurie Stevens

Recent Accolades

6-2020 “The Artist’s Wife” was one of 150 paintings juried into the National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society 2020 Spring International Online Competition.

2-2020 I was accepted into the Booth Western Art Museum show Making Their Mark: American Women Artists. May 27 – Aug. 23, 2020.

2018 – I was chosen as a Finalist in the Portrait Society of America’s “Members Only Competition” (in the Non-Commissioned Portrait Category) with my painting, “The Artist’s Wife”.

2018 – I was chosen to grace the “Classic Moments” page of the July / August 2018 Fine Art Connoisseur magazine. This is the last page of the magazine and a full page spread! My painting, “The Artist’s Wife”, 32×24, was my response to a painting of the same title by William Merit Chase, done in 1892. – https://fineartconnoisseur.com/category/magazine/current-issue/

2018 – “An Early Breakfast” was juried into the NOAPS 2018 Best of America Small Painting National Exhibition at Richland Fine Art in Nashville, TN. April 30 – May 26, 2018 – http://www.noaps.org/copy-of-best-of-america-prospectus

2018 – Portrait Society of America – 6×9: Limited Size, Unlimited Talent Mystery Art Sale, April 20 at the Art of the Portrait Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. – http://www.portraitsociety.org/

2017 – C.M. Russell Museum Auction “The Russell” – http://www.cmrauction.com/

2017 – Dinghies and U-Turn were juried into the National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society Holiday Small Works Show in Parkville, MO. – https://www.noaps.org/holiday-small-works-show

2017 – Portrait Society of American Members Only Competition Finalist in the “Outside the Box” Figurative Competition – for “Mourning Dove” 36×24 – https://www.portraitsociety.org/moc-2017-winners

2017 – Two pieces juried into the National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society Holiday Small Works Show – https://www.noaps.org/holiday-small-works-show

2016 – Portrait Society of America “Members Only Show” – I placed in the Landscape Division with my painting “Milk and Honey”! See the images on the slider. – http://www.portraitsociety.org/moc-2016-winners

2014 – Spring, 2015 – Juried into the Spring American Women Artists Online Juried Show. http://www.americanwomenartists.org/news/html/t_oli_2014_fall.html

2014 – Juried into the Fall NOAPS International Online Showcase. http://www.noaps.org/html/t_oli_2014_fall.html

2014 – Juried into the American Women Artists National Competition & Exhibition, Orleans, MA.www.americanwomenartists.org

2014 – Chosen to be an “Art in Action” Artist for the Russell Auction event at Meadowlark Country Club, Great Falls, MT., Mar. 21www.cmrussell.org/the-russell

2013 – Juried into the American Women Artists National Competition & Exhibition, Fredericksburg, TXwww.americanwomenartists.org

2012 – A piece of mine, “Motel Galata” was selected to be part of the permanent Modern West Collection at the Booth Western Art Museum in Cartersville, GA! www.boothmuseum.org/

2012 – Top 100 Paint the Parks National Competition (2 pieces) www.paintamerica.org

2011 People’s Choice Award at the Clymer Museum of Art Exhibit & Auction www.clymermuseum.com

2008 C.M. Russell Museum CEO Award – given to one Russell Auction participant www.cmrussell.org

2008 – 2010 Paint America Top 100 www.paintamerica.org

About Me

Stevens’ work reflects the small daily wonders of the land she calls home: the first crocus of spring, the resilient beauty of the plains, or that special sense of hope and possibility that is only found in the West. Stevens is also interested in regional history, particularly the interactions of Native Americans and white settlers during the Reservation Period. Many of her paintings are an exploration of this dynamic and a meditation on the “taming of the West.” From Billings, MT, Laurie began her career as an artist in Los Angeles where she spent 12 years working for the entertainment industry as a scenic artist and muralist for television, theme park, theater and movie productions. She spent time as a member of the Walt Disney Imagineering team, lending her talents to many Disney theme park projects worldwide. She also did some set design, illustration, and matte paintings for several animated childrens’ movies. In the 1980’s Stevens returned to her native Montana, first to the mountains near the Scapegoat Wilderness and then to the ranch near Great Falls where she currently lives and works.