Laurie Pace - Fine Artist

MR MAN Cartoon Painting with Melissa Cootsana  by Laurie Pace   The Man that entered back here in 2026. Several years ago, in the summer of 2022, I took a workshop with Melinda Cootsona.  We were all seasoned painters — artists with years (and in my case decades) of experience. Melinda’s gift was not just teaching technique so much as encouraging us to push past habit. She asked us to loosen control, take risks, and wander into unfamiliar territory. Magic appeared in unexpected ways. © Laurie Pace        Graphics One Design 2026 At one point she asked us to explore cartoon-like characters.   That word — cartoon — did not sit comfortably with me. I was trained as a fashion illustrator. My work has always leaned toward structure, refinement, and intention. “Cartoon” felt foreign, almost dismissive of the language I knew so well. I tried once. I failed. Then I tried again — and Mr. Man appeared. He arrived without a plan. I wa...