Laura Jean McLaughlin and Schlumpy Funk 

Gentle listeners, I have the most wonderful artist to introduce you to on this week’s episode! 

Laura Jean is a sculptor and an artist that I met in Denmark in 2013,  at a very interesting ceramic conference full of larger-than-life personalities and intrigue and of course. ceramics! 
Laura Jean stood out to me, with her amazing talent and what I have come to realize is her true love of creating work, wherever and however she can. 

I appreciated her style immediately,  so bold and narrative,  rich in storytelling,  and just beautiful and so many things. she does mosaics,  prints, sculpture, big and small... what is this style of drawing, woodcarving, and sculpture????  
When I went back to Hawaii and rejoined my life I followed her on Facebook, then on IG  for years. I would order small pieces from her that could be shipped to Hawaii easily because simply put, her works make me happy!  It really is that simple,  this complex yet straightforward, whimsical yet to me Buddhist,  incorporates the idea of “being present”  and does not take itself nor the artist too seriously.. I think Laura Jean is an artist who is comfortable in her skin and that permeates her work and flows through all she does. 

Hmmm, I thought what is this mysterious and beautiful world I stumbled upon?????

I would discover that this is called  Schulmpy Funk sooooooo when I went through Pittsburgh on my way to Philly I was determined to stop and see the studio that had inspired me all these years and I think will continue to do so for years to come! 

So much I  enjoyed  Laura Jean’s studio and her conversation and work that on my back Iowa I stopped again,  this is our conversation. 

 I hope we will have many more about Schlumpy Funk, morning meditations, and moving into simpler digs with her studio which is AMAZINGLY  FULL  of her creativity from her work,  to her cats to the mural she just painted on the outside as I was leaving! 

A human so full of ideas she seems to overflow and cannot be contained ..below are the links to her website,  bio, and her social media and to the Schulmpy funk manifesto which I think will change one’s life if you let it!  

So do yourself and the world a  huge favor and friend her on  Facebook, watch her morning meditation drawings, get inspired as we come out of this pandemic year and we remember that beautiful things happened when we were not looking! 

http://laurajeanmclaughlin.com/

https://www.instagram.com/ljmclay/

 https://www.facebook.com/laura.j.mclaughlin.3

Here is how you can buy the Schlumpy Funk Manifesto, https://www.amazon.com/Schlumpy-Manifestoes-David-Ziller-McLauglin/dp/098919227X/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=schlumpy+Funk&qid=1621388023&s=movies-tv&sr=1-1