An unusual exhibition opened this week at the public library on Madurostraat. It covers a year’s work of Laureen Croes-Eman, a mother of three. But that’s not the point. The point is that Laureen having conducted a full meaningful life for almost four decades, being an accomplished PR and Marketing executive, made a complete professional turn-around and became a full time artist. She is exhibiting in the library I suspect to send a message that we’re all artists, those who expose are the ones digging and exploring. Those who have no exhibitions to their name, didn’t get around to it yet; or perhaps they enjoy an alternative artistic outlet.
In our community Laureen Croes-Eman was synonymous with great writing and marketing talents. She worked for Deloitte & ECA in top capacities as a writer, and then she says, a deep depression engulfed her, a kind off mid-life crisis, where she realized she was moving by rote and doing work she no longer enjoys. It was a good choice as an early career, but didn’t suit her emotional needs any longer.
Naturally, as a high functioning member of our community she tried to combat how she felt by medicating the symptoms and tell herself she must be crazy, not loving the marketing field. That denial led to some more depression and an additional visit to the doctor’s office. There, she saw the light. The doctor’s wife, Belinda de Veer, who ditched her previous successful career in science in favor of brushes and paints, had a very attractive canvas hanging on the wall.
Laureen was struck by the idea that painting would be fun and so rewarding. She went out shopping for stuff and converted her living room into an atelier. She also threw most pills out as she was instantly feeling relieved and alive, bursting with energy.
Laureen is showing 60 canvases, the fruits of her first year of work. She is exploring many styles, impressionistic, expressionistic, modern, surreal, as well as portraits. She has no idea who exactly she is an artist, but she is sure she is one. Her favorite painting is pictured here with her. My favorite was a self portrait as Laureen as a child. The straight blonde bob, the blue eyes. The poem attached to the image explains the sadness hovering over the angelical face; Dad had just told her Mom passed away.
A thirty-year old wound, unhealed that perhaps found closure via artistic expression. The artist reports she will be starting to take lessons soon, and that she will be perhaps moving out of the living room to a permanent studio. However for now, she is an artist full time. “Mom,” says the younger generation, “but your painting are not realistic.” “Well,” she answers, “they do not have to be.” Laureen is in the stage where she investigates the subject matter and the media, and in time, she will no doubt reach greater realism and greater depth, but she should be admired for the ‘chutzpah,’ the balls it took, to actually make a bold, courageous career change. She feels great in the process, she reports, a changed woman, no longer the life of the party; no longer the loudest mouth, but certainly a much happier more fulfilled individual, off the automatic pilot.
