I’ve always loved art and crafts and doodled on my algebra notes. I started seriously working on portraits while at college, although I didn’t pursue an art career. Despite this, I managed to get noticed in many of the places I worked and was commissioned to do portraits, posters, flyers, brochures, caricatures, etc. during my work day. I wrote and illustrated training manuals for one organization and sold commissioned portraits in my free time. I took a hiatus from art while raising my 3 girls. Now I use my daughters as models for a variety of pictures. In the past 3 years, having more time to spend on art, I designed a website, opened an art studio at Lafayette Renaissance Academy and participated in a variety of juried shows and exhibitions, doing demonstrations and assisting local art organizations with creating brochures and websites. I work with pencil, pastel, charcoal, colored pencils, watercolor, acrylic and oil. I tend to mix mediums, using pastels and colored pencil together or watercolor and pastel. I’ve created portraits with subjects in live sittings and from photographs. I enjoy drawing portraits and also enjoy creating ‘fantasy’ pictures of mermaids, angels and elves. I also enjoy re-creating the many places I’ve visited in the US, Canada and Europe.

Currently my work can be viewed online at llauter.com. I have had artwork at the Art Museum of Lafayette and the Mental Health Association. Shows include an exhibition at the Tippecanoe Arts Federation, Crawfordsville Art Fair & the Round the Fountain Art Festival.

In 2010, I was hired to complete a series of paintings for an office waiting room- the largest being 36′ x 48′ and upon completion of this, I went on to paint murals in adjacent space.

In 2012, I opened a shop in downtown Lafayette called Main Street Artisans and featuring artisan crafts and fine art.

In 2014, I moved back to Indy and adopted a puppy. I currently work on portraiture and formulating natural home and bath products.