Life & Work with Lauren Crowe

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lauren Crowe. 

Hi Lauren, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I was always a creative person growing up, but it wasn’t until college that art became a regular practice. I have struggled with anxiety since childhood, but making things with my hands and being out in nature is where I’m most at peace. 

I received my BFA in graphic design from Appalachian State University in 2016, where I was first introduced to printmaking. Afterward, I worked as a full-time graphic designer for a humanitarian aid non-profit organization for five years while practicing printmaking from my home studio. In 2023, I left graphic design to focus on printmaking full-time, and I’m dedicated to learning and developing new ideas in the world of print. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Life has its challenges for everyone. Like I mentioned before, my anxiety disorder has always been something that I have struggled with. For many years I have let this disorder lord over me. At some point along the way, I decided I wouldn’t give it so much power in how I live my life. Thanks to faith in Jesus, being in nature, making things with my hands, support from my family, and little help from medication, I feel like the strongest version of myself so far. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am the artist behind The White Crowe, a fine art studio located in the High Country of North Carolina that specializes in relief printmaking. Each original print is made from a hand-carved block, printed using high-quality and archival materials, and published in limited editions. 

One of the main benefits of printmaking is that it allows artists to produce original multiples of their work, which makes the individual pieces more affordable to collectors. 

I fell in love with printmaking because it is a precise and deliberate process that requires a great deal of intentionality and mindfulness on the part of the artist. The artist must carefully plan out each step of the process, from creating the image on the printing plate to selecting the paper and ink to use. This level of attention to detail often leads to unexpected and beautiful results. 

The slower pace of printmaking also encourages artists to take their time and pay close attention to the materials they are using. This can lead to the development of textures, embossing, and other valuable imperfections that lend each piece its own unique character. These imperfections can make each print feel more personal and intimate as if the artist has left a part of themselves in the work. 

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Oh, many things. Wood-fired pizza, making things with my hands, sunshine, nature, my son, to name a few. 

Pricing:

• My prints currently range from $30-$400 with intentions of my work being attainable for most.

Contact Info:

• Website: thewhitecrowe.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/thewhitecrowe
• Facebook: facebook.com/thewhitecrowe 

Image Credits
Compelling Story Photography