North Shore Meet an Artist: Laura Bell

North Shore artist Laura Bell is one busy lady. When she joins the studio you can find her creating colorful cuisines on canvas and catching up with friends. Laura also finds time during the week to help with Meals on Wheels, work at the Glenview Public Library and savor some of her favorite foods. Volunteer Trent Taylor talked with Laura this month to learn more about her aesthetic and culinary interests. Read her insightful interview here. Bon appetit!
What materials do you like to work with?
I do watercolors with brushes. They’re fun and creative. I like painting rainbows. I painted a chocolate mousse. I paint with colors, then find things I like in the shapes.

How long have you been an artist?
I’ve been an artist for two years. I started coming to The Arts of Life on Wednesdays.
What inspires you to create art?
I like painting because it’s fun and I get to be creative. I like painting using an easel. Easels are cool cause I like the size. I get ideas from magazines. Girls’ Life magazine and J-14. I like painting the girls.
Describe the projects you are currently working on.
I made an oreo ice cream cake and a butterfinger cheesecake for my wedding. And a Reese’s peanut butter cheesecake too. Also macaroni and cheese and chicken nuggets. It’s happening on my birthday in May. I painted a chimpanzee too. I painted him with different rainbow colors.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not at the studio?
I like relaxing, watching tv, playing games, and hanging out with my family and boyfriend. I like playing Battleship and Uno.
I work four days a week at the nursing home in Skokie. I do lunches for Meals on Wheels for two hours in the morning. My friends are Marie and Juanita and Ivy, they’re the lunch ladies. I also work at the Glenview Library shelving books on Tuesdays. I work with Jessie, Gertrude, and Mary. And a girl named Eileen and Emily, and Karen. And a girl named Peggy. I like both jobs.
And my summer job I worked at Dairy Queen making ice cream. I ate a lot of ice cream. I did buster bars, dilly bars, ice cream sandwiches, chocolate bananas, and put candies away. That was my favorite job. I get their blizzard there. The Reese’s peanut butter cup blizzard with hot fudge, whipped cream, six cherries, and six gummy worms. I like to eat all of them though. I like Fuddruckers too. I get a cheeseburger with no bun and cheese fries and their drinks too. And for a snack they had Rice Krispie treats. I go there with my family. Some of my friends too. I like TGI Friday’s, I get the cheese sticks. Cheese is my favorite food.
If you could not be an artist, what other job would you chose to do?
I would work at a sushi restaurant ‘cause they have good food. I like the California rolls and maki, it’s like sticky rice with shrimp skin on it. Their soups and salads are good too.  And I took a picture of the boat I made. I like taking pictures of snow globes too.
What’s your favorite thing about The Arts of Life?
I have lots of friends here. I like talking to them about their jobs and their art too. I have fun at The Arts of Life.
Any ideas for your next painting?
I think today I’m gonna paint cheesy rice ‘cause I like the colors.

What’s your favorite TV show?
Two and a half men.
Favorite type of music?
Disney music from the Disney channel. I like the Beatles like, “Here Comes The Sun”.
Favorite color?
Purple with sparkles.
Second favorite color?
Orange with sparkles.
Third favorite color?
Green sparkles.
Middle name?
My middle name is Isabella (pronounced Iz-i-bel-lia) It’s an Italian name.