Capturing the light, color, and peace of the Lowcountry—one painting at a time.
For Laura Cody, painting isn’t just a pastime—it’s a calling. After a 25-year career as a medical technologist, Laura retired with her husband to Beaufort, South Carolina, in 2001. What began as a simple weekly art class after work soon blossomed into a full-time passion that would transform her life and brighten the lives of others.
“Once we moved to Beaufort,” she says, “I just couldn’t stop painting.”
Now living in Summerville, Laura brings more than two decades of artistic experience to her luminous pastel and oil paintings, which she affectionately describes as “realistic impressionism.” Her collectors might describe them another way: timeless windows into the beauty, serenity, and soul of the Lowcountry.
From Science to Studio
Laura’s story is one of joyful reinvention. Though she spent years in a technical career, her creative spirit was always close at hand. When she signed up for that first local art class, she discovered not only a love of painting but also a deep sense of purpose.
“I had a very positive, encouraging instructor who helped me see what I could do,” she recalls. “And once I started, I never stopped.”
Largely self-taught, Laura has taken numerous workshops through local art guilds, sharpening her skills and evolving her own signature style—a delicate balance between realism and impressionism, where every brushstroke celebrates light, movement, and emotion.
Beyond the Flowers, 2025 | Oil on Canvas | 24 x 36 x 1.50 in
Inspired by the Lowcountry
Much of Laura’s inspiration comes straight from the world around her. The marshes, beaches, birds, and flowers of coastal South Carolina are recurring themes in her work, each painting infused with a sense of peace and familiarity.
“My inspiration comes from the beautiful Lowcountry—its marshes, landscapes, birds, and flowers,” she says. “I hope my art brings joy, peace, and beauty into someone’s life.”
Her creative process begins with a photograph that captures her attention—usually because of the light, shadows, or color. From there, she sketches out the composition, sometimes adding an alcohol underpainting for pastels or starting with a toned canvas for oils. She works from dark to light, layering detail and depth until the painting seems to glow from within.
“I always try to step back and look at the painting from a distance,” she explains. “And I check it through a mirror to make sure everything feels right.”
As for when a piece is finished? Laura smiles and says,
“When it sells!”
A Life Immersed in Art
Painting is more than a hobby for Laura—it’s part of her daily rhythm.
“I paint or do something art-related every day,” she says. “I’m fortunate to have a studio in my home, so I can go in and work at any time.”
She credits her faith as a sustaining force in her creative journey.
“Art has been my passion, my joy, my peace, my therapy,” she reflects. “It got me through some tough times, and I thank God every day for this gift.”
It’s a perspective that shines through in her work—each painting feels like a quiet prayer of gratitude, a celebration of life’s simplest, most beautiful moments.
A Pillar of the Local Art Community
Over the years, Laura has been involved in six artist-owned galleries and three art guild galleries, including Art Central and now Art on the Square Gallery, where she played a part in helping form the gallery’s first location.
“I’m thrilled to be at this new downtown Summerville location,” she says. “With all the growth and activity happening here, it’s the perfect spot for a gallery.”
Beyond her work on the walls, Laura also shares her expertise through pastel and oil palette knife workshops, including an annual holiday favorite—painting Santa hats with a palette knife.
Her advice for emerging artists is simple and heartfelt:
“Don’t ever give up—and always be ready to learn something new.”
Commissions available upon request
For Collectors
Laura’s work ranges from $65 to $1,500, depending on size and complexity, and includes prints, notecards, coasters, and commissions. Her paintings feel at home in bright, welcoming spaces—homes that celebrate the Lowcountry lifestyle and its rhythms of rest, beauty, and belonging.
“I hope people feel the joy and peace I’m trying to send forth,” she says.
And while Laura has won numerous awards—from Best of Show to Honorable Mention—her favorite moments are the personal ones.
“I love when I capture the likeness of a person in a portrait,” she says. “That reaction—that’s what makes it all worthwhile.”
You can find Laura Cody’s soothing, happy, and colorful work at Art on the Square Gallery in downtown Summerville, where her paintings continue to capture the light and love of the Lowcountry—and share them with every collector who stops to look a little longer.