I come from a small town, rural background, growing up on a farm in Southern Minnesota. History, the land, color, texture, contrasts, everyday scenes: these are the elements that inspire my work. France always draws me back, as it so richly provides these things. The past eleven years I have also taken inspiration from the Lanesboro area in SE Minnesota, because of the towns nestled in the Root River valley and the commitments to historic preservation one finds there. I use my camera like a sketchbook and record many scenes that I work on in my studio located in my home. I have two grown children and four grandchildren and I am enjoying the time I can now spend devoted to my painting.
The following are excerpts from an article written by Kay Johnson, a staff writer for the Hutchinson Leader.
"She captures the essence of France in her paintings."
Spending time in the lower level of her rural Winsted home studio is a feast for the eyes and food for the soul. The walls are hung with a variety of images -- some are very large (35 inches by 41 inches) and others are very small -- no larger that a postage stamp (1 inch by 1 inch). Laxen is passionate about her subject and it shows in her generous use of such eye-catching colors as vivid blues, crisp greens, sunny yellows and lush reds. There is something unmistakably unique about her work -- a feeling or essence that defines a sense of place.
The scenes on display throughout her studio range in subject matter from overflowing pots of colorful flowers to people from gray-haired men wearing black berets to middle aged women shopping in the local marketplace. It is the coming and goings of everyday life that Laxen records throughout her paintings.
"My goal in painting is to capture the emotion, the reality of the moment, and most often, the peace that is within a scene."
"For the past 15 years, my work has centered on France," said Laxen when asked about her choice of subjects. "From the moment of my first visit to my most recent, it affords me all of the subject matter I love to paint and combines it with my appreciation of history. Each time I return with more images to stretch my artistic boundaries."
Her style is realistic with a hint of impressionism. Her colors are reflective of the scene she is painting.
"My paintings are an invitation to join me in where I've been," said Laxen. "I want to share the joy, the color, the detail, the surprises."
Working in the medium of watercolor, Laxen is able to control it to obtain a variety of interesting effects in her work ranging from transparent glazes to almost shiny tempera-like finishes. Laxen enjoys painting in a smaller format creating intimate scenes rich in detail and dramatic in contrast. She has been working in the smaller format (six inches by six inches) since 1993.
Laxen grew up on a farm in southern Minnesota. However, it wasn't until she went to college at St. Cloud State University, where she majored in art education, that she was able to give free rein to her talents. It was while she was a student that she began her lifelong interest in watercolors.
Laxen's love affair with France began in the summer of 1990 when their family hosted their first French foreign exchange student. From there, she began to study the French language and culture by taking classes at the Alliance Francaise in St. Paul. Six months later, she took her first trip to Paris, the city of lights.
"I am a small town girl who crossed an ocean and can't get it out of my mind," said Laxen. "My watercolors reflect my love for the colors, textures and feel of life in France. I paint to revisit and share these experiences."
