Jess: I was really blown away by how talented you are as an artist.
Laurel: Thank you! It’s great to get feedback like that because it was really scary to put it all out there. It’s so personal and so close to who I am in terms of my style.
Jess: How was your summer in New York City, living in an artist’s loft in Tribeca?
Laurel: I felt like it was just the biggest gift in the world. I was staying in a loft owned by Gary Stephan and his wife, who are both amazing painters… It was just this incredible artist community right there – Laurie Anderson was doing performance art there and I was going to galleries and exhibits every day and I felt like it was my own personal little art cocoon – or a mini summer graduate program. I was alone with my kids and needed a lot of support so I surrounded myself in a community of really amazing, wonderful women and other mothers… I don’t know if it was conscious or not but I created something that was really close to what New York felt like for me when I first moved there when it was all about acting and independent film and theater. This time it was all about art. My ex-husband took a job in Beijing at that time so we had a very split life and I really have to credit him because he was so supportive of me painting during that time so that’s exactly what I did.
Once the summer started I began painting about 40 hours a week and sometimes I’d put my kids to bed and go back to painting again, and I realized that in order to get closer to what I wanted to accomplish I was going to have to immerse myself in it. There were many days that were incredibly hard to balance the art work with my children at the ages that they are (6 & 2.5) and I also spent a lot of time alone. I think I see a lot of the loneliness and a lot of what was going on a little more clearly now than I did right when I finished.
Jess: Who has influenced your artwork?
Laurel: Marlene Dumas is an amazing South African painter who I get really drawn into, Louise Bourgeois who has this amazing sculpture at the Tate when you first walk in, Tracy Emin, Annie Lapin… I’m usually drawn to female painters who paint sensually, like Georgia O’Keeffe. There’s also Ashley Collins who does something different from all of those people but paints these beautiful horses with tons of resin on top of her paintings.
Jess: What medium do you use?
Laurel: I’ve done oil and I mix resins with alcide… oil glazes.. I’ve painted a few things in acrylic, like the one I donated to Sewing Hope. I’m still learning though, using different resins that I haven’t used before and working with different glazes. I paint in lots and lots of layers and I’m usually working on 4 or 5 paintings at a time because the drying times are all different. I kind of get a little painting ADD going on. [laughs]
Jess: Do you listen to music while you paint?
Laurel: I had a friend recently say I listen to brooding “sad bastard music” like Damien Rice or Joseph Arthur, who actually had a song “In the Sun” in the first season finale of The L Word. Most of my tribe of people were musicians when I was living in New York so I’ve always been really connected to music as an art form, especially while painting. My painting Bullet was painted to a Damien Rice song called “9 Crimes”. And, the painting “She Burns My Eyes” has the title taken from a lyrics in his song “Dogs”. I also listen to lots of Radiohead and I’ve been working on this painting based on their song “House of Cards”… I’ve always been inspired by great poets so I think that’s why I’m attracted to really brooding, folky musicians.
Jess: It must be satisfying to have sole creative control over your artwork as opposed to acting, where they will edit it any which way they want. The finished product is totally out of your control once your job is done.
Laurel: Yea, I love the control I have over my art! I actually think I had to start painting because of the control. At that time I didn’t really feel I wanted to write or direct and I really felt I needed to step back but still be creative in my own time frame… and this was something I already loved doing. I love that I can paint for 8 or 10 hours and then stop to pick up my kids from daycare, or put the kids to bed – things I sometimes missed when I was on The L Word because the schedule was out of my hands. It’s been so meditative for me in terms of controlling the time frame in which I’m creative as well as controlling the result and the process.
It’s been incredibly rewarding and it has nothing to do with my appearance! How I look and my outfit and whether I have makeup on or if my hair’s not great… I have terrible hair for TV! It’s just been amazing to get back to who I was….a tomboy who didn’t care about any of those things. Thank God for The L Word though, because I learned how to groom myself that much better with the right clothes to wear and how to do makeup… and Jennifer [Beals] taught me how to walk in high heels and I was like “wow! I think I just became a lady now!” It was like, “oh, this is what a Dolce & Gabbana suit is like when it fits” …. I grew up, but there’s still this sort of kid-like tomboy in me and that comes out when I paint. Okay, maybe I didn’t mean “kid-like tomboy”… I just mean… I like to get messy. There was a strong desire to getting back to that because it wasn’t based on winning the audition or booking the job or what I looked like or whether I beat someone out. I don’t have to be hired to get the high I get from painting.
Also, after having kids, you give so much of yourself and I think I was taking something back for myself when I started painting. I had to really get back to like, who was I before I became a mom and a wife? And also, who was I before I became an actor? That’s what I think I’ve been trying to rediscover and get back to. I think that’s true for anyone — if you find something that’s truly liberating… give yourself permission to do it.
Visit Laurel’s online portfolio at www.laurelhollomanstudio.net
and meet Laurel signing posters of her artwork at The Dinah this Spring
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wow, her art is really good! i had no idea. . . i really enjoyed the interview ^-^
This interview makes my L-word disc set Christmas present marathon even better!
Laurel is gorgeous and amazing… even more so for being able to be true to her passions instead of falling in to the role of ego-centric actress with her success.
Totally <3 this article. Thanks for another great interview, Jess.
I loved the interview!! I also love the fact, that Laurel is so humble. Keep it going Laurel, your paintings are beautiful.. Wishing you all the best!!
great interview, jess… it was a fantastic in depth view of the intriguing, multifaceted woman that she is. well done.
We shouldn’t be talking about her at all anymore really.
She is a has-been actress who for OVER A DECADE, has been busy re-nouncing 1.)her lesbianism…and
2.)her bisexuality
Soooo why waste anymore INK reporting on HER?
She made millions think lesbianism is only a phase!
In short, she set lesbians back by at least 50 YEARS. ☹️
I disagree… How Laurel Holloman identifies in regard to her sexuality is not an attack on anyone who is a lesbian/bisexual. It is fair enough that she feels the way she feels and is open about it. Sexuality is fluid for many people, and not everyone likes boxes. I don’t think one actress has the power to set back lesbians for 50 years. The problem is not her, but the many voices in society who say that being bi or lesbian is only a phase. I can see that one might like to be represented in people whose name is well-known, but there are others, and no one owes anyone anything in regards to their sexuality. Many people identify differently at various points in their lives, and that is valid; identity is not fixed. Some women have identified as straight for decades before coming out as lesbians, which is valid. Some have identified for a long time as lesbians, then fall in love with a cis man and reconsider: is it just this one guy? Am I bi? And some come to the conclusion to identify as straight later. And that is just as valid.
Ahh, Jess, this was perhaps your best interview yet. I definitely have a newfound respect for her and appreciation for what she did with her role as Tina. And wow – I’m blown away by her talent. She’s positively masterful with colour.
Fantastic, Jess. Just fantastic!
thanks, rachel! glad you liked it!
Really great interview! Was interesting to see Laurel’s perspective on playing Tina and on the L word as a whole.
This interview is fantastic and amazing.
Also, I have to say that I feel proud to be from North Carolina right now, and I don’t remember the last time that happened.
WOW. Once again, I’m blown away by Laurel’s openness, honesty, artistry and dedication to her craft.
What an actor, what a painter, what a beautiful person.
Good luck on her Italian painting job and I’m sure she’ll land that right acting job soon. =)
Thanks a lot for this refreshing interview!
Whenever I watch 2 Girls in Love, I have to stop and rewind the part where she giggles and says “Crooootch.” multiple times before I move on. It’s just brilliant.
She is so fantastic!
i like to rewind the part when the boobs come out. fantastic.
she’s really an incredible artist and it’s great you got so many different sides of her to come out. non-tina kennard sides. 50 points to gryffindor.
Even though I’ve only seen the first 8 episodes of the L word, it’s clear that she is an extremely gifted actress and artist who I respect even more after this article. Amazing interview!
back up. you’ve only seen the first 8 episodes of the L word? how… ?
I only started watching… four days ago… I am a terrible lesbian. XD
Brilliant interview, Jess! It’s so refreshing to read interviews when the interviewer knows: a) their audience, b) their interviewee, and c) what the fuck they’re talking about.
Laurel Holloman has always been my favorite fantasy. Er, I mean actress. On The L Word.
i love you heather hogan
RT
Wow, what beautiful paintings! I can’t stop staring at them. The colors are just amazing. Damn, I wish I wasn’t stuck out in the boonies, or I’d go to the signing.
So I totally watched The Incredibly True Adventure of Two Girls In Love when I was in my just-came-out-let’s-rent-every-gay-themed-movie-at-Blockbuster’s phase. MEMORIES~
I feel like I never got out of that phase.
PS: Blockbuster recently discontinued stocking gay films. True story.
They’re still online but I won’t cry when that dinosaur goes bankrupt.
Support your local rental place, they have wayyy better gay dvd selections anyways.
Yes! My local place has an LGBT section! Love it.
Jess, loved this interview. Also, I love Laurel Holloman so much as an actress! The range she shows between Randy and Tina is incredible. I really feel like most actresses absolutely couldn’t do a young butch lesbian right, but Laurel was note-perfect as Randy.
Her art is wonderful, too. Am I gushing? I’ll stop now.
I think what’s really striking/interesting about Laurel in everything I’ve seen/read is that she has such a like — big, chatty personality? and tina is not like that at all, she was always so reserved. like when she said amazing things at those bravo awards where tibetters totally made bette & tina win best sex/(kiss?) (i don’t have a tv) award in whatever year.
idk i feel like it would be fun to get drunk/live my life with laurel holloman
Jess, that was a fantastic interview. I am in love, though I can’t tell right now if it’s with the interviewer or the subject. But then, I did develop a thing for Kim Seversen after the NYTimes Talk.
ha!
Great interview Jess, congrats! ;)
Wonderful to know about her contact with all girls yet.
Especilly with Jennifer, they did a such great job as Bette and Tina, the best couple of tv / movie ever!
She’s sooo sweet and lovely, very honest always. I love her for that!
Thanks again!
As everyone has mentioned, wonderful interview! I really enjoy her paintings as well. She seems lovely.
Great interview, as always! I’ve always been kind of fascinated by Laurel Holloman for whatever reason, and this interview both supports that instinct further and kind of demonstrates that she looked like a tiny little baby Kelsey, sort of, in the Incredibly True Adventures (which I never saw but I just watched the embedded clip!). So naturally now I extra love her. Agree/disagree?
I liked Laurel Holloman ever since I saw this interview with her:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkYXErIfyoE
Nobody owes anybody an explanation for their sexuality. Go, Laurel Holloman.
great interview. i heart lauren! yyummmm
Loved the interview,so interesting.Its great to learn more about the actresses in the LWord,i loved the show and go to the conventions here in the UK. Thankyou.
I really admire Laurel Holloman now after reading this interview and will be def buying the film “The incredible story of 2 girls in love” if i can.
Laurel spoke with so much passion about her paintings,her work,her kids.
Its nice to get to know more about people who became a big part of your life when they portrayed the characters u admired in film/tv.
like hergo for laurelll
TUDO NO THE L WORD PARECEU TAO REAL,PRINCIPAMENTE AS BRIGAS DE BETTE E TINA, COMO O SEXO, E O BEIJOS NA HORA EM QUE TINA ESTAVA COZINHANDO E BETTE CHEGA ZANGADA E RECLAMANDO E AO VIRAR VER O TESTE DA OVULAÇÃO EM CIMA DA MEZINHA,BETTE VAI ATÉ ONDE A TINA ESTA E DÁ U UNS BEIJO NA TINA, A TINA CORRESPONDE TÃO VERDADEIRAMENTE QUE CHEGA A SER REAL,QUEM NÃO VIU PROCURE E DE A NOTA,VAI CONCORDAR COMIGO,PALMAS PARA LAUREL.
Woa,I love her and Jennifer, I wish They two are together again on another TV Show.