Charlotte Laxen
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 Fransaise 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."

Her style is realistic with a hint of impressionism. Her colors are reflective of the scene she is painting. 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.

"My goal in painting is to capture the emotion, the reality of the moment, and most often, the peace that is within a scene."

Shown:
Triumph of light
Giclee

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Feature: Watercolor Wonders