Ball of Souls

A few years ago I went under anesthetic for surgery and whilst in that space I experienced something amazing.  I saw that each of us has a golden thread connecting our earthly bodies to the source from which our souls came.  I saw that when we die the threads return to the source to be reunited with all the other threads who have previously passed.  In this painting I have represented the source as a golden ball of threads.  Over time the threads are individually sent on-wards again to experience another life.  I have painted a number of human skulls with golden threads leaving them, being guided back to the ball of souls by the many caring hands of an other-worldly being.  Growing among the skulls are Calla Lilies, often called the Death Lily, a symbolic flower for death.  Alternatively, in some cultures the rat represents life so I have placed one upon a skull to show that life exists amidst the death.  All set before an infinite galaxy which includes a purple planet for my favourite singer/musician Prince.

Please Note:  Due to the limitations and relative inconsistencies of various display monitors, the colors you see on your screen may not be a totally accurate reproduction of the actual product. I strive to make my colors as accurate as possible, but screen images are intended as a guide only and should not be regarded as absolutely correct.

Image remains copyright of Laural Retz.
www.lauralretzstudio.com

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Hello and welcome!

I grew up in the bush of Warrandyte in outer Melbourne which in the 70’s and 80’s was a heavily art-centric community. It was the perfect place to nurture my passion for art, wildlife and the natural environment, which has had a great impact upon what inspires my art today. Having drawn and painted since I was a small child, my subjects then included insects, budgies and horses. I admit that not much has changed, however in my 20’s I also developed a talent for life drawing and hence the female form features frequently in my work.

With a style that is colourful and bold, my paintings reflect my moods and thoughts. Most of my work is slightly quirky and a little surreal because I believe art should make us smile and feel good.

I achieved a Visual Arts Diploma from the Cooloola Sunshine Institute of Tafe in Noosaville in 2001 and since then have sold my paintings to art enthusiasts from all over the world. I’ve lived in some beautiful parts of the world like Noosa Heads, Goa and the island of Cebu in the Philippines, which I’m sure have all imparted their own unique influences upon my art.