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.
What a great reminder ! Thanks Laurie !
Oh, Laurie, thanks for this. It sounds like such a fitting homage to Sheila that she would have loved. So missed.
Hugs,
Sara
Beautiful remembrance. Am still so sad for those who knew her personally. I only met her briefly but what I saw I truly liked. And her artwork…such energy and vibrance. I’ve no doubt she visited you both under the cottonwoods. She could even have been reaching you through the eyes of those Deer…
Thanks for your tribute to Sheila. I am constantly being reminded of her energy, advice and support when painting with pastels. What a great person! Her directions for improving my work were, and continue to be, appreciated. Also very needed: no “hiding your light under a bushel” but rather “get out there and do it”! She was an ‘artist’s artist’. Thanks again.
Hi Laurie and Tom,
I thought of you often yesterday, as I thought of Sheila and the tremendous loss we have suffered.Several of us gathered together in her memory and talked about our times with her, and wondered what might still be done in her memory.One of the friends brought us a copy of the Pastel Journal with the lovely and moving article written by Aaron Schuerr.We hope to go up to her studio sometime and visit with Pete. It’s clear to me that Sheila had a huge impact on the art community of this region, and it’s comforting to know that so many other people have cared for her and honored her. I’m glad she achieved what she did, and I’ll always hold her in my highest regard.Thank you for all you have done.
Cris Fulton
What a great tribute Laurie, thank you. Those deer…wow, they look like they’re going to step out..we gathered at Cris’ studio yesterday, talked about Sheila, and enjoyed the recent article about her work in Pastel Journal.