My story

It all began with my first oil painting set. It was a gift from my Aunt Cari who had become a quadriplegic and could no longer paint. She was a remarkable artist whom I admired greatly. She saw in me something that I didn’t see myself. She believed in me and told me that I needed to carry on for her. I took her words to heart.

During my teen years I took classes with adults to learn to paint. I joined the DuPage Art league and drew and painted every chance I could. I took classes in college and private lessons in Villa Park at the Art Nook. It became my passion.

But then life and work got in the way. I still loved it but I found little time for it in my life with young children at home.

My sister asked me after I had been complaining about my job, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I said, “Oh, I would be an art teacher, hands down.” She encouraged me to follow my dream and go back to school.

Soon there after, the Lord led me to work at Unity Christian School in Fulton, IL and I was hired to be the art teacher. I went back to college and it took me 5 years, but I did it. I graduated with honors from Clinton Community College and then from University of Phoenix with my Elementary Education degree and later got my endorsement in art, even though by then I had been teaching art for more than 17 years.

Now I teach painting parties for adults, art education for students and I paint in every spare moment I can squeeze in. My mantra is, “Glorifying God Through Artistic Expression.” This is my life’s goal and my purpose in life. To God be the Glory in and through all things, and especially in art. He gets all the honor and praise.

Laura Readdy

Matthew 19:26 “With God, all things are possible.”