05 Nov Stephenson Showcase: “Small Moments” by Laura McCormick
Our most treasured memories might come from deceptively simple moments. A quiet afternoon outdoors, the changing shapes of light on water, or watching children discover the world around them can become lasting memories when we take the time to appreciate them. Artist Laura McCormick finds inspiration in these everyday experiences, capturing the beauty of family, nature, and the moments in between through her showcase exhibit, “Small Moments”.
A love for creating began early in Laura’s life. Throughout childhood, she took every art class available in school before pursuing a fine arts degree in Painting and Drawing at Ball State University. After college, she stepped away from art to focus on marriage, raising four children, and completing a Master of Library Science degree through Indiana University. During the COVID pandemic, however, art found its way back into her life as a welcome opportunity to relax and destress. She began submitting work to exhibitions at Ignite Studio and the Fishers Arts Council, eventually connecting with other creative organizations throughout the community, including the Hamilton County Artists’ Association, Noblesville Creates, and the Watercolor Society of Indiana. Today, she embraces this renewed chapter as an active artist and enjoys being surrounded by the many creatives who make up the local arts community.
Her artistic process is driven by an appreciation for the natural world. She notes, “I enjoy finding all the different organic shapes in nature, abstractions of light on the surface of water, and exploring a variety of colors.” While her subject matter has remained relatively consistent, her choice of materials has continued to evolve. Laura has explored gouache, watercolor, and acrylic paints. She has also developed a growing interest in line variation via watercolor pencils. Most recently, she has begun experimenting with oil pastels. Moving between mediums allows her to continually explore new ways of expressing the subjects and compositions that catch her eye.
Much of the inspiration behind “Small Moments” comes from Laura’s experiences as a mother of four children, ranging in age from 5 to 15. With so much of everyday life centered around watching her children grow, she has developed an appreciation for the quieter experiences they share. Family outings to public parks and short hikes have provided opportunities to enjoy the outdoors together, while also offering a wealth of inspiration for her artwork. Florals, botanical elements, and other natural details often find their way into her compositions, reflecting the beauty she encounters while exploring with her family.
For Laura, these paintings hold meaning beyond their visual appeal. Many of the featured pieces began with photographs she took of moments, places, and details that caught her attention. “Most of the pieces in this show are things I’ve seen and originally photographed to use as reference images,” she says, “They feel special to me because looking at them I can remember those moments.”
“Small Moments” will be on display November 6-28, 2026, in the Stephenson House gallery on the Noblesville Creates campus, located at 107 S. 8th Street in Noblesville. Visitors are invited to attend her free public reception on Friday, November 6, from 6-9 p.m., to meet Laura and explore her work.