Artist Interview: Laura Enninga, Celia Studios

Laura Enninga, of Celia Studios, describes her paintings as “A bit like a shotgun; all over the place.” She creates out of her home studio in Anoka, Minnesota. Her paintings are a mixture of realism and abstract, very painterly, with plenty of humor in them. I first met Enninga in the Art Department at St. Cloud State University (St. Cloud, MN) and have followed her art on Facebook since.

“I like freedom of expression in making art,” she said. “Not settling on any one idea and evolving and growing my technical skills. There is always room to improve.” 

"Seal A Lisa" 16"x20" acrylic on canvas

Enninga also teaches painting classes. “I always wanted to open my own studio and had one for over a year in Osseo, MN,” she said. “People came in for studio time and I would give them pointers on their work or help them put together more intense pieces.” She helped manage a paint-and-sip company, where she learned to host and teach fun step-by-step classes. Currently, 3 people come weekly to learn painting techniques from Enninga.

"Espresso Reflections" 20"x24" acrylic on canvas

Earlier this year, Enninga was hired to live-paint a wedding. I’ll admit, I absolutely LOVE the idea of hiring an artist to create an original art piece during/of a wedding. I asked Enninga what her next project was, and she said she’s always working on multiple projects at a time. “I have a fun series of black and white and monochromatic with golds of famous faces and objects like coffee, and bowls. I also am working on my series of famous paintings but changing them to be funny spoofs.” [See “Seal A Lisa” pictured above.] She also has a few commissions in the works, and a set of four realistic figurative paintings that she’s planning on entering for a contest.

"Hummingbird Mosaic" 24"x30" acrylic on canvas

She is also working on backgrounds for future paintings. Enninga will use a variety of tools and techniques to create her backgrounds, like potato mashers, mesh, and lace, as well as mixing and making colorful boxes and drips. “I didn't like to work on backgrounds when I was younger due to being more excited about the subject matter itself,” she admitted. “But have developed a need to focus on the background and fine tune it before moving forward.”

Is easel envy a thing?

Her favorite art tool is a wooden easel that her father built for her. “My favorite tool, really isn't a tool but the easel my dad built me when I was younger because he believed in me and wanted to show me. I now have two he made and a third one for large canvases.”

"Prince of Minnesota" 24"x30" acrylic on canvas

A stumbling block Enninga has is the balance between painting commissions and painting things that inspire her. “I tend to procrastinate far more knowing I have art for a job versus making it for me and sharing it,” she said. “It isn't that I hate doing commissioned pieces; often times it is my bread and butter. It is the need to create something that inspires or moves me that keeps me dragging out commissions instead of getting them done.” Enninga will set aside time to work on her personal paintings, artwork that she’s inspired to create, and then work on commissions. Switching back and forth helps to keep her motivated. “I don't like turning out commissions I'm not proud of and this keeps me on track....most of the time, anyway.”

Her advice for other artists starting out? Don’t compete or compare yourself to other artists, and instead surround yourself with people who build you up and give you advice. “Make work you are proud of and would hang on your walls. Money comes with time and dedication to the craft.” Enninga said some of her best artwork wasn’t made because she was looking to make money, but instead because she was creating for herself. “People recognize you in your work and that is what sells them on the piece, not always the actual painting or artwork.” 

"I Fell In Love In Fall" 20"x24" acrylic on canvas

You can follow Laura Enninga on Facebook at www.facebook.com/celiastudios/ and be sure to check out her website at www.celiastudios.com.