Laura Van Horne’s mixed media paintings and Corrie LaVelle’s encaustic paintings are featured in February at the Burien Arts Gallery.

Meet Laura and Corrie during the Opening Reception, Friday, Feb. 5, 5-8 p.m. at the Gallery, 826 S.W. 152nd St. in Olde Burien.

The exhibit runs Feb. 3-Feb. 27.

Laura Van Horne is a mixed-media artist who works in encaustic, acrylic, watercolor, ink, resin, textiles, and ceramics. She has studied acrylic and encaustic painting at Pratt Fine Art Center. She has been painting for about 20 years and teaching art classes for 10 years.

Since childhood, Laura has been passionate about art. When she is not creating on canvas, she is creating in her head.  Common motifs in Laura’s work are often everyday objects such as houses, dresses, birds, and vintage objects.  Many of her pieces are mixed media and include found organic objects, textiles, pages from books, or items from flea markets.

Laura has participated in a number of group and solo art shows over the past 15 years.  She presently paints and teaches out of her Seattle studio/gallery space.

“I create art because I have to,” Laura declares. It is what drives me.  I gather inspiration from so many different things. I am drawn to nature, photography, humor, and everyday objects. Much of my art is vintage inspired.”

Corrie LaVelle has been passionate about art, design, and style all her life.  

Although by definition she is an untrained artist, Corrie feels she has spent her life journey preparing her for the world of fine art.

Currently, Corrie is working with encaustic paint. She identifies with the wax as an expression of who she is; fluid, constantly changing, temporary, pliable.

Corrie states, "When I'm creating a piece the exterior of my life blurs and my soul moves into focus. I see myself in every piece. At the beginning of a project I see nothing. Stroke by stroke bits of my life appear. Emotions, experiences, thoughts. One by one they compile onto the board, until a story is created. And when heat is applied to the wax the edges blur, layers are revealed, and I am reminded how beautifully complex life is.

“Encaustic art is necessary to my life. It is where I spell out my personal journey into every piece. To have the ability to share that experience, and allow the viewer to chose their interpretation of and apply it to their own personal path is a joy.”

Artists from Artists United will also present their work during February.

The Burien Arts Gallery is open Wednesday through Saturday, noon-6 p.m. It is the only non-profit fine-arts gallery between Tacoma and West Seattle.

Visit www.burienarts.org or call 206-244-7808 for more information.