
About
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Often called a poet with a paintbrush, fine artist and humanitarian Laurie Elizabeth McKinley has dedicated her life to observing, documenting, and participating in the human experience. She has traveled the globe her entire life, compelled to observe and photograph the stories of vanishing cultures with compassion and humanity. She translates these increasingly rare images onto canvas- capturing the unforgettable experience and subtle beauty, so that she might share them with the world and hopefully inspire change to protect diversity and the environment.
Laurie Elizabeth paints in all genres, especially enjoying en plein air in villages throughout the world and capturing that very special “first feeling” -- the mystery of the moment, the chi, the magic.
Her inspirations are notable Russian masters, like Ilya Repin, Valentin Sorov and Nicholai Fechin. She has studied at the Repin Institute, Florence Academy and Fechin Museum. For the past five years, she has studied, painted, and traveled with the masterful Chinese artist, Jove Wang.
Laurie Elizabeth’s work has been exhibited and collected internationally, hanging in private and corporate collections in the United States, United Kingdom, France, Italy, India, Canada, and Mexico. She has been exhibited twice at the UN in Geneva. Recently, she had award-winning exhibits, winning best in show in Santa Barbara; Xian, China; Lyon, France, and Santa Fe, New Mexico. In 2018, Laurie has won an Honorable Mention in the 3rd Annual Waterscapes Competition from Fusion Art Palm Springs and has been invited to the juried New Orleans Art Association 2018 National Show. She is exhibiting in multiple shows at Santa Barbara Fine Art.
Laurie Elizabeth lives with her husband, Mark, in Santa Barbara, California. She is active with Human Rights Watch, Landmine Survivors Network, and Acres of Love. She holds degrees from the Art Center College of Design and the University of Southern California.

National Association of Women Artists

Oil Painters of America


California Art Club
National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society


American Artists
Professional League
American Impressionist Society Inc.

Exhibitions
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CURRENT:
Associate Artist Member Show
The American Artists Professional League
April 2023
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PAST:
Gold Medal Exhibition - Delights and Shadows
California Art League
January 2022
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Art and Nature
Laguna Plein Air Painters Association
November 2021
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Western Regional Juried Exhibition
Oil Painters Of America
October 2021
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Renewal and Rebirth Online Exhibit
California Art Club
April 2021
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Small Works and Beyond
National Association of Women Artists
September 2020
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2nd Place Award for Serenity
Sunrises and Sunsets Juried Competition
Fusion Art
April 2020
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Honorable Mention for Serenity
5th Annual Artist’s Choice Exhibition
Fusion Art
March 2020
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Grand Visions: We Are Here
National Association of Women Artists
February 2020
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Honorable Mention for Gratitude
Artist of the Year Competition
Circle Foundation for the Arts
January 2020
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Honorable Mention Award for Gratitude
Artist of the Year Competition
Circle Foundation for the Arts
January 2020
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National Oil & Acrylic Painters' Society Online International Fall 2019 Exhibit
December 2019
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Flowers and Gardens Online Exhibition
August 2019
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North Lake Tahoe Plein Air Open
June 2019
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Oceans and Coastlines
June 1 - July 27, 2019​
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Women Celebrating Creativity
National Association of Women Artists
February 1 - May 29, 2019
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Catherine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club, 122nd Annual Open Exhibition
Jan 8-25, 2019
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Honorable Mention for Summer Play (Santa Barbara)
4th Annual Figures and Faces Art Exhibition
Fusion Art Palm Springs
November 2018
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California Vineyards Exhibition
Oct. 4 -Dec. 4, 2018
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New Orleans Art Association 2018 National Show
October 3-27, 2018
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Viva Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara Fine Art
August 2 - October 4, 2018
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Honorable Mention for Serenity
3rd Annual Waterscapes Competition
Fusion Art Palm Springs
September 2018
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Santa Barbara Natural History Museum Art Walk
Sept. 22-23rd, 2018