Laurie Basham

Laurie Basham is a pastel artist who enjoys capturing the beauty of color found in light and shadow, whether it’s a landscape, figure or still-life. She loves spending time plein-air painting, but is also inspired by her travels around the country. When she can’t be outside, she will be found working in her studio using her own reference photos of her grandchildren or painting a still life of freshly cut flowers. A native of Rockville Maryland, Laurie received her Degree in Art Education from the University of Maryland in 1985. After an award winning career as an Art Educator in Howard County Maryland, she retired in 2019. Laurie has received awards in several Plein-Air competitions, as well as awards in several local, national, and international shows. She relocated to Clemmons, North Carolina in 2020, where she paints full time and is very involved in the art community as well as exhibiting her work at several galleries in North Carolina. Laurie is currently the President of the Piedmont Pastel Society and is also a signature member of the Maryland Pastel Society and the Degas Pastel Society. Additionally, Laurie an Associate Member of the Pastel Society of America as well as a member of the Pastel Guild of Europe, the Muddy River Arts Association and Pastel Society of North Carolina.