SKETCH PAD Artist In Residence Interview: Mixed Media Artist Lauren Lortie on Finding Magic in the Everyday.

At the Cultural Center of Cape Cod, we celebrate artists who see the world through a unique and curious lens—and few embody that spirit more fully than Lauren Lortie. A lifelong Cape Cod resident, mixed media painter, and passionate art educator, Lauren creates work deeply inspired by natural textures, found objects, 1980s toys, and the fearless creativity of her students. Her vibrant, nostalgic pieces blend experimentation and emotion, inviting viewers to embrace imperfection, rediscover playfulness, and find beauty in the unexpected.

Lauren is currently the Sketch Pad Artist in Residence at the Cultural Center of Cape Cod’s Hyannis Campus at 50 Pearl Street, where her residency runs from July through October 2025.

She studied at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University (Studio Diploma), earned her BFA from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, and holds an MFA from the LeRoy E. Hoffberger School of Painting at the Maryland Institute College of Art.

In this interview, Lauren shares insight into her creative process, her deep connection to teaching, and what it means to be an artist rooted in the Cape Cod community today.

How do you stay creatively motivated while balancing work, family life, and self-care?

There is art in everything we do. As a kid growing up in the '80s and '90s, I was inspired by the colors and design of the booming toy market and Saturday morning cartoons. As an adult, I can take a walk in the city and see depth and shadows in the architecture—or colors and light in nature. I love driving to the canal on a day off and looking for rocks that are different from the others.

You can still find a Pogo Ball or Lite-Brite in my paintings today.

As an art teacher, what have you learned from working with young children that influences your own art practices?

Stay surprised. Every day, my students try something new—and they’re excited about it. Being so young and new to this world, I see how they thrive on curiosity. I'm often impressed with their art, and everyone in the room who is a part of it is smiling and having fun.

This energy translates beautifully to a canvas hanging in a gallery space. In the end, we're all surprised and engaged.

Do you follow a structured process when starting a new piece, or is it more intuitive?

I usually find a color or material that inspires me and start there. The painting tells me what to do after that. Rarely am I familiar with the final piece, except for the influences hanging out in my subconscious that I mentioned before.

I'm almost always surprised by the final result, and I like to think that's fun for the viewer, too. I'm not averse to making "bad paintings" through experimentation, as long as they're authentic.

What even is a bad painting?

What’s one lesson you’ve learned from children that all adult artists should remember?

Be kind to other artists. Stay away from the temptation to bring others down because of your own insecurities. We’re on the same team.

My young students compliment each other freely and identify as "artsy" without comparing each other’s work. It’s refreshing!

As a lifelong Cape Cod resident and creative, what advice would you give to younger artists here on the Cape?

Know that you belong—and there are many people here who want to see diversity in art. Keep that youthful creativity without feeling pressure to conform to "what sells."

You are Cape Cod artists, and your individuality is our culture. We need you.

Explore her work at www.laurenlortie.com and follow her on Instagram at @laurenlortie

Photographs courtesy Lauren Lortie as well as Amanda Lee