Art and science have always been important parts of my life. I studied physics in college, and worked in research, science outreach, and lab management roles after graduating. But my free time was always full of creative projects-- from knitting and cross stitch to making props for my college theatre group to ballroom dancing!

I didn't start painting until 2021, in the midst of an incredibly challenging period of time. One of my two younger brothers had died a few years prior, and just as the grief was starting to subside, the pandemic started and I was laid off from my job. If that wasn't enough, at the beginning of 2021, my muscles starting getting very weak. By April, I was unable to walk more than a few steps without falling, and doctors couldn't figure out why.

I wasn't physically capable of leaving my house, but my hands still worked, so I started teaching myself how to paint by watching watercolor tutorials on YouTube. Initially, painting served as a distraction from fear, stress, grief, and physical pain, but it quickly became a passion— painting was meditative and grounding during a time when everything else felt out of control.

The scientist in me also loved learning about different pigments and their properties. The way pigments can be mixed to achieve certain effects, how they disperse in water, and the way they settle on paper—it's all dictated by chemistry, fluid dynamics, and materials science. Color theory relates to optics. Pigments that come from plants, like madder? Botany. Ochres, umbers, siennas, and other mineral-based pigments? Geology. Even astronomy plays a role; the elements that make up pigments originated during the Big Bang, or from dying stars.

Eventually, I was diagnosed with a rare form of myositis. I relearned how to walk and spent about two years getting treatment. In the summer of 2023, a few months before going into remission, I decided to start a business where I could combine my background in science with my newer love of watercolors. Thus, Antimadder Art was born.

Antimadder is art rooted in science. I'm committed to creating artist-quality paints using ethically-sourced micas and pigments, as well as eco-friendly materials. Honesty, transparency, and evidence-based information are values I hold dear.

Above all, Antimadder is for everyone, because art is for everyone. Whether you're just starting your creative journey or you're an experienced painter, I'm thrilled to have you here, and I can't wait to see what you create!

-Laura