02-22-24 Meet Catherine Lawrence

Catherine Lawrence, who has been volunteering and teaching at Paint A Miracle for two years, says she loves being a part of such a magical place. Catherine is an artist who appreciates industrial buildings, architecture, machinery and pieces with strong structural elements. Her favorite artists are John Singer Sargent and Charles Sheeler – and Paint a Miracle artists, of course!

She remembers stopping in Paint a Miracle 20 years ago, when our studio was in downtown Rochester on Pine Street. Impressed by the studio’s philosophy of nurturing our artists’ creative vision regardless of their abilities, Catherine knew then that she had found someplace special.

“I could see it was a special community with their heart in the right place,” she said. “They were using art as a healing element.”

“Paint a Miracle and its unique space is a true community,” she says.  “It’s the artists that make the space unique,” she says. “And the guiding hands of the staff, artists, parents, volunteers and supporters all work together to bring the best creative experience and outlet for the artists.”

Catherine feels privileged to be a part of Paint a Miracle’s growth and creative opportunities-helping artists break down their ideas into workable stages, through the introduction of different techniques and mediums in support of their creative works of art. 

Catherine encourages artists to experiment with alternative painting tools, and to explore their subjects in colorful, playful ways, sheep’s wool painted with dots of color, instead of white or gray strokes of paint for example. Each decision Catherine helps them make pulls the artist into a world where color and form shape to their will.

Catherine circles the studio encouraging them to look at the details in their work, checking for one more element that will bring balance to their decision making, and life to their art. In this way Catherine, her artists, and art form a magical connection no disability can break.

“Each artist has their own individual way of communicating and processing, so it is important to get to know each artist on a more personal level,” she said. “Through quiet observation, patience, conversation and encouragement, communication slowly begins to build and blossom. AMAZING art emerges through their vision and voice.”

The Artists at Paint a Miracle have worked their way into her heart and she said being a part of the team brings her joy.

“I call it a magical place, as everyone truly cares about each artist as an individual and the happiness the creative process brings to them,” she said. “It is the whole community that supports these very special artists.”

Artwork by a student of Catherine Lawrence.