4 minute read
MURAL ARTIST
Van Wade/Orange Living
Lauren Leigh’s murals brightening the Orange County area
By Van Wade
EEver since she was in second grade, Lauren Leigh Stanley has had the ‘bug’ to be an artist that helps brighten people’s lives.
Well, she is certainly accomplishing that and then some across Orange County with her amazing storefront paintings and murals. She has been greatly involved in all of the Oranges around town that was the idea of the Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce.
“Doing this type of work has been my passion ever since I was a little kid,” said Stanley. “It is something I always wanted to do. I have been fortunate enough to meet some great people in the Orange area. I’m 37 and I’m raising a family and also pinching myself that I have finally reached my dreams of being able to do this.”
Stanley was inspired early on to become an artist. “As a kid, I would love to just sit down in front of the TV and watch Disney shows,” said Stanley. “Then, I wanted to become a cartoonist. I would literally stop and pause the TV so I could stop the characters and draw them.”
Word of mouth spread around and Stanley really started getting busy around Christmas time last year.
“I did work at the City Hall and things started to explode from there and people wanted to start booking me,” said Stanley. “I started getting a lot of calls. Everyone loved the work I did at the Family Pharmacy’s and then I did some work at the Brown Bag Boutique and the Water Tree. I’m already getting a lot of calls for this coming Christmas and I realize now that I will have to get off to a much earlier start, like midNovember, but I love every single second of it. It’s my passion.”
Courtesy photos
Courtesy photos
Courtesy photos
Stanley’s murals definitely stand out. She did an amazing mural that features sea life in the nursery at Bridgepoint Fellowship Church in Bridge City that has wowed so many people.
For the most part, Stanley was heavily involved with doing artwork and murals in residential homes and now businesses are constantly wanted to book her.
“I love doing murals, a lot more goes into that and it’s more time-consuming, but once you see the finished product it’s great to see people become overjoyed and I do the same thing. For the longest, I did murals in people’s homes, mainly in kids’ rooms, doing artwork such as the Hulk, Captain America and football players.”
Stanley is going to be real busy soon with a big job she proudly accepted as well.
“I met with Orangefield High School administrators and they want me to do some work on the entire Orangefield High
School library,” said Stanley. “That is going to be my toughest challenge yet and they and I have so many great ideas for it. I’m so excited to jump on that, I just can’t hardly wait.” Stanley has had a blast painting a lot of the oranges across the Orange area and is still doing some of those as well. “It is definitely a great project and I know the Orange Chamber has to be proud, and they definitely bring out a lot of community pride,” said Stanley. “I have been able to meet so many great people through that project. I like to hear the stories and some of the jokes. I like the one between Brad Childs of Childs Supply and Tony Dallas and his insurance agency. Brad is all about Texas A&M and Tony has SFA, Tennessee and Lamar on his, it’s great listening to them go back and forth.” Stanley worked with a Florida photography company for a while and dealt with special photos and such and eventually found her way to Southeast Texas.
“I met my husband Brandon, who grew up here in the Orangefield area and I just love it here,” said Stanley. “We stay busy, raising our kiddos and the Orange County area is a great place to do that. I’ve been grateful to meet so many super people that have made me feel right at home. It’s been wonderful for sure and hopefully everyone around here will keep me busy for a long, long time.”
To see some of Stanley’s tremendous work, Facebook.
FOUR CONVENIENT LOCATIONS!
you can go to Lauren Leigh’s Murals on
