We’re looking forward to introducing you to Laura Mc Donnell. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Laura, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
What I’m most proud of building, even if it’s not visible to everyone, is my self-awareness. I’ve learned to recognize my tools, my gifts, and my strengths, but also my shadows and wounds. Working on them has allowed me to grow both as a person and as a creator, so I can offer the world something more authentic, more conscious, and more aligned with who I truly am
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Laura Mc Donnell, abstract artist and entrepreneur. A year ago, I created LMD CURATED, a brand where I handpick unique handbags and objects with original designs and colors, crafted for women who want to express their style with authenticity. Each piece is chosen for its aesthetics, functionality, and the story it can tell.
In parallel, I’ve been developing my personal brand as an artist, creating original artworks and offering creative consulting to bring beauty and identity to homes, offices, and other spaces. I am currently in the process of merging both ventures under my personal brand, where I will offer art, design, décor, styling, art classes for kids and women, and even a curated fashion marketplace—creating an integrated creative universe that inspires people to live and surround themselves with beauty, color, and personality.”
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was a curious, creative child deeply connected to colors, shapes, and my imagination. I would spend hours exploring, drawing, inventing stories, and finding beauty in the smallest details—free from limits or expectations.
Today, I strive to keep that curiosity, creativity, and imagination alive. Social mandates and the collective unconscious shape us in many ways, and it’s not always easy to understand who we truly are at our core. That’s why self-awareness is so important—it’s a process of reconnection, of returning to our essence, to that place where we don’t need permission to be who we truly are.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
To my younger self, I would say: look for all the answers within yourself. Dive into self-exploration through psychoanalysis, connect with your inner child, and stop listening so much to others so you can truly listen to yourself. You don’t need to fit in—you are enough exactly as you are, and that’s what you came to show the world.
The gaze that matters most is your own, and the way you speak to yourself shapes who you are. Don’t ask for so much permission—be free in mind and in action. We came here to shine, to show our uniqueness, not to blend in with the crowd
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What do you believe is true but cannot prove?
I believe, even if I cannot prove it, that God exists and that everything around us is energy. I believe we communicate and connect through this energy, and that it is a language beyond words. I find it hard to explain what the soul is, but I know it lives within us. I also deeply believe in intuition—that gentle voice that guides me and that I try to listen to whenever it whispers in my ear. Between the soul and intuition lies my artistic process, which is difficult to put into words but feels as if it transcends me: I am a channel for something beyond myself to express itself through my brushstrokes.
I also believe that colors have a direct impact on us through their vibrational energy, even though many have yet to discover it. That’s why they hold such an important place in my life, in my art, in the way I dress, and in how I decorate my home. Colors have the power to influence our emotions and moods, and using them consciously is a way to transform how we feel and how we live.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
A couple of years ago, I decided to live life with the awareness that there is no guaranteed tomorrow—not even ten years ahead. I try to remind myself of this every day, making choices that allow me to value and enjoy each moment to the fullest. Expressing my love to the people I care about, making them feel good, choosing what brings me happiness, and letting go of the constant search for external approval.
Every day, I strive to have the courage to go after what I want, without asking for so much permission, daring to do everything, without shame and with more determination. I want my choices to be based on my own desires, not those of others. I would spend more time creating, traveling, surrounding myself with nature and inspiring people. I would say ‘yes’ to everything that sparks my curiosity and lights up my heart. And I would stop worrying so much about money and sales, choosing instead to feel abundant with all that I already have and all that I already am.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lauramcdonnell.com. and www.lmdcurated.com
- Instagram: @lauramcdonnellsmithart and @lmdcurated
Image Credits
Elena Loeffler – www.elp-photography.com
Tawny Elise – www.tawnyelisphoto.com
Freeman Long
