Lora Warman is a mixed-media artist based in Lutruwita (Tasmania), with a rich Italian heritage that deeply influences her work. In this interview, Lora shares her journey of returning to art after a break spent raising her three children. She talks about how rediscovering her creativity in 2021, through analog collaging, helped her reconnect with herself and find healing. Lora opens up about her creative process, from researching vintage images to layering materials in her collages, and how these pieces reflect her cultural background, motherhood, and unique perspective as a neurodiverse individual. She also discusses the balance between analog and digital methods and how nature, history, and personal memories shape her artwork.

Lora Warman is a featured artist in our book “Lines And Curves.” You can explore her journey and the stories of other artists by purchasing the book here: https://shop.artstoheartsproject.com/products/the-creative-process-book

Lora Warman is a mixed-media artist from Lutruwita (Tasmania) with an Italian heritage, which has profoundly influenced her creative practice. She describes her art as reflecting her lived experiences, personal journey, and cultural background. A mother of three, Lora spent a significant period dedicated to parenting before returning to her creative pursuits and reclaiming her passion for art and expression. Alongside her artistic work, she is also an educator, currently teaching English in the Secondary school setting.

Her artistic journey took a new direction in 2021 when she discovered a deep love for analog collaging while attending visual art classes. Layering materials, textures, and imagery allowed her to connect with her intuitive, creative voice in raw and transformative ways. As a neurodiverse individual, Lora finds that her practice offers her a unique way of engaging with her inner thoughts. For her, each piece of art manifests her thoughts, emotions, and observations of the world as she experiences it. Through her work, she invites viewers to experience complexity, contrast, and connection in ways that resonate on a profoundly personal level.

1. Lora, after a break from art while raising your family, how did rediscovering your creative practice in 2020 impact your well-being?

In 2020, I dedicated my time to learning fashion technology and design fundamentals. It was a challenging year that required me to slow down and master skills like manipulating fabric, sewing, and pattern design. Until then, I had been so busy surviving in parenting and work that I felt drained and empty. Focusing on learning new skills during that year made me realize I needed to do more. This realization led me to spend 2021 fully immersed in my studies in visual arts. As I engaged with my creativity, I began to feel better and smile more often. I often questioned why I had let so many years pass without drawing or painting.

I still don’t know why. I am grateful to be able to spend the time learning again. During this time, I also addressed some health issues I had previously ignored, which helped restore my energy. My overall well-being improved immensely, and my family noticed my positive changes. Many times, as women, we might think we need to prioritize others before ourselves, but that’s not right. I witnessed this tendency in my mother. Art has become a powerful outlet for me; it allows me to express my inner thoughts, calm my inner dialogue, and create pieces that I hope inspire others as much as they inspire me.

My work is a way of processing and expressing the multifaceted aspects of myself, giving voice to the parts of me that have often remained unspoken or hidden.

Lora Warman

2. Your work combines vintage images and modern techniques. How do you balance historical research with your creative intuition?

I have a deep love for research—particularly the process of exploring online archives and scanning digitized books for beautiful, forgotten images. As I sift through these resources, I often find myself captivated by the pictures and the words surrounding them. I marvel at these glimpses into the past, reflecting on how I can breathe new life into these historical fragments and give them a fresh expression. When I discover an image that resonates with me, I save it and print it out, gradually building a collection of photos to work with. The act of bringing these images from the past into the present is what excites me most about the creative process. I always pause to consider the artist who created each image, feeling grateful for the opportunity to incorporate their work into mine. It’s as if I’m continuing a conversation across time, weaving their vision into my own.

3.  With your background in archaeology and museology, how does your academic experience influence your creative process?

My years of researching the past—the landscapes, the people, the artifacts, and the stories—fuel my desire to seek out and uncover images. I believe the past is never truly gone; it’s all around us, continually shaping and guiding us. It speaks through my work in the patterns, colors, designs, and layers I create. Every place, person, object, and image carries its own story. In my art, I layer these stories, weaving them together to form a visual narrative that tells something new—a story that is uniquely its own.

4. Your collages include botanicals, insects, and vintage patterns. How do you select the images you work with, and what do you hope they convey?

I begin with color. I’m often drawn to a particular shade, and from there, the process unfolds. As I gather images, I create a pile of similar hues and consider their complementary colors. I tend to incorporate blue and pink into most of my work—pink for its connection to my brand and blue for its soothing, calming effect on me. My focus on botanicals, insects, and vintage patterns is deeply personal. Botanicals hold a special place in my heart; I love my garden, feel connected with the insects that inhabit it, and help it thrive. These creatures deserve to be celebrated in my art. Vintage patterns evoke memories of my childhood, a time before the era of fast fashion. The textures and colors of these patterns resonate with me aesthetically, reminding me of a more straightforward, more enduring sense of style.

Art has become a powerful outlet for me; it allows me to express my inner thoughts, calm my inner dialogue, and create pieces that I hope inspire others as much as they inspire me.

Lora Warman

5. You create both analog and digital collages. How does your creative process differ between these mediums, and what do you enjoy about each?

Digital collaging is fascinating. I love how I can erase parts of an image and manipulate its color, texture, and angle. I can be more adventurous with access to countless images online, selecting from a broader range of sources and incorporating them freely into my designs. The possibilities feel limitless, allowing for more spontaneity and experimentation. Analog collaging, on the other hand, is more challenging. I must work with the images I have on hand, carefully cutting them out and shaping them. Sometimes, the image I want to use is too complex to cut precisely, so I focus on specific parts, which results in a different kind of collage than what I might achieve with the same image in a digital format. This limitation can be frustrating but leads to unique, unexpected outcomes. I love the tactile nature of working with paper, scissors, and glue. The process can be so absorbing that hours slip unnoticed—three or four hours can pass before I step back and examine the finished piece. I find that amazing! I work more slowly with digital collaging, adding small touches here and there throughout the week. While it doesn’t draw me into the creative “zone” as profoundly as analog collaging, I still enjoy the process and the results. Each method brings its kind of satisfaction and inspiration.

6. Your art is inspired by history and the past. How do you see art helping us connect with history, and what role does your work play in that?

Art gives voice to the past. We don’t exist in isolation; we are shaped by what has come before us. We must acknowledge, value, and learn from history—and then create from it. I am a storyteller, weaving together the visual language of the past and the present. My work invites viewers to pause, look closely, question, and reflect on what they see. I want to inspire curiosity and appreciation for the stories embedded in the images. Through my art, I aim to bridge the past and the present, reminding viewers of the beauty, wonder, and joy that can emerge from the layering of patterns, colors, and images. In these layers, we find both the echoes of history and the vibrancy of the now.

Lora Warman’s work is a beautiful blend of personal history, cultural heritage, and creative exploration. Through her mixed-media collages, she invites viewers into a world where fragments of the past meet the present, creating meaningful connections and reflections on identity, memory, and the natural world. To learn more about Lora, click the following links to visit her profile.

Arts to Hearts Project is a global media, publishing, and education company for
Artists & Creatives. where an international audience will see your work of art patrons, collectors, gallerists, and fellow artists. Access exclusive publishing opportunities and over 1,000 resources to grow your career and connect with like-minded creatives worldwide. Click here to learn about our open calls.