LAUREN PHELPS

MOTHER'S DAY GIFT GUIDE

Lauren Phelps

Dear Friends,

This Mother’s Day, I am excited to share some of my favorite gifts for mom this year.

I want you to feel good about what you gift, so I am highlighting some of my favorite mom-founded, run, and owned brands. The added bonus - from April 12th to May 12th, Naghedi, Weezie, and others will be joining me in supporting WELCOME BABY via the MOMS heart MOMS virtual fundraiser.

To learn more about Welcome Baby, the Moms heart Moms initiative, and collaborating brands, read here.

Happy Mother’s Day!

1. Linen Set, Parterre, $145; 2. Hand-Carved Silver Cups, CeCe Barfield Inc, $120; 3. Gift Certificate for current or future commission, Lauren Phelps Studio, $500+; 4. Floral Block Print, Renee Bouchon, $125; 5. Personalized Robe, Weezie, $185; 6. Pima Cotton Pajama Set, LAKE, $98; 7. Embroidered Linen Napkins, Misette, $160; 8. Magazine Subscription, InKind, $30; 9. Large St. Barths Tote in Shell Pink, Naghedi, $315; 10. Patchwork Swimsuit, Hunter Bell x Marysia, $369

MAGIC MAKERS

PressLauren Phelps

Hi Friends,

I recently chatted with my friend Hannah Weil McKinley at InKind Magazine for their eight issue. We talked about motherhood, magic, and intention. To read the full article, Issue No. 8 is available for purchase here.

I am lucky to be partnering with InKind this month in the MOMS HEART MOMS virtual fundraiser. To learn more about the initiative, read on here, and stay tuned on Instagram for a special giveaway featuring a generous contribution from InKind.

To subscribe to InKind’s brilliant publication head to their website and to get a sneak peek of their magic check out their Instagram !

With love and gratitude,

A few excerpts from this conversation

MOMS HEART MOMS

Lauren Phelps

Hi Friends,

This month, I am excited to announce a special initiative I have launched with my good friend Sally King Mcbride of The Letternest.

We’ve gathered some of our favorite mom-founded and owned brands to form MOMS heart MOMS: a community of like-minded women coming together with a wholehearted mission to support mothers in need.

This month, we are supporting Welcome Baby USA: a charity committed to supplying new mothers with the supplies they will need for the first four weeks of life.

Join us in a virtual fundraiser running April 12th-May 12th, and follow along for a MAJOR GIVEAWAY in early May! Stay tuned on Instagram for all of the details.

To learn more about Welcome Baby and to donate to their cause, read here.

With love and gratitude,

A LOVE FOR MOTHERS

Born out of my postpartum experience. With a great support system, I was still struggling, and my mind kept returning to mothers of various circumstances and how they navigate the immense pressures of the early postpartum days. I also thought a lot about my young mother, who somehow, against all odds, managed to raise me well with so few resources and so little experience. I have a deep love for my fellow moms, and want to do something to give back for all they give their children and the world.

So, together, with some of the most generous women I know, we formed…

MOMS HEART MOMS

MOMS heart MOMS is a community of mom founders and business owners (or mom-founded brands) coming together with a wholehearted mission to support mothers in need. This collective of like-minded women are combining their love, talents and platforms to celebrate motherhood and do something beautiful for their fellow moms. 

Proceeds Benefit

Their mission is as simple as it is critical:

To provide low-income mothers with one package containing all of the items they’ll need for their newborn in the first four weeks of life.

Learn more here: welcomebabyusa.org

2024 CHAIRS

Sally King McBride - The Letter Nest

Lauren Phelps - Phelps Studio

2024 - 2025 COLLABORATORS

MOMS I HEART: Sally King McBride, founder of The Letter Nest

Lauren Phelps

Hi Friends,

I am excited to launch the new series MOMS I HEART, highlighting some of the impactful, amazing, and inspiring moms in my life.

For this first edition, I am interviewing my great friend Sally King McBride, founder of The Letter Nest. As a veteran in the art world, Sally launched The Letter Nest in response to the mothers in her life. On a constant search for the perfect gift, Sally decided to create her own: hand-illustrated alphabet prints.

I am lucky to be partnering with Sally this month in the MOMS HEART MOMS virtual fundraiser. To learn more about the initiative, read on here, and stay tuned on Instagram for a special giveaway featuring a generous contribution from Sally.

Read on to learn more about Sally and The Letter Nest, and be sure to support her website and Instagram.

With love and gratitude,

MOMS I HEART

sally king mcbride

founder of the letter nest

Who or what made you a mom?

“My sons, Matt and Alex!”

A recent big little moment…

“I love that my kids have their own friendship independent of me and my husband. It's their own little world, with secrets, games, occasional hand-holding, and a lot of Pokemon.”

Daily ritual?

“Painting and Peloton.

And I love walking around NYC...”

The advice you didn’t take

“I generally steer clear of professionalized parenting advice—

I don't need more voices in my head than the one already present. :-) “

The advice you now give

“Don't do it all.”

Your wish for every mom

“A manicure.

And that she knows she's loved.”

YOUR STORY

Big Little Moments, Parent + Child, SketchesLauren PhelpsComment

Dear Friends,

Happy New Year! As we head into 2024, I am so thankful for my amazing clients and tiny, beautiful subjects that allow me to live a life and career beyond anything I could have dreamed.

The most rewarding part of my work is listening to your stories and immortalizing them with my art. As I plan for the future, I have a few exciting projects I will be working on in the coming months and years. You are my inspiration, and your stories fuel my creative work.

Y O U R S T O R Y

What is your Big Little Moment? The “in-between” seemingly insignificant everyday moments that seem little but are incredibly big to us as parents. It could be something as small as a made-up song or a quirky ritual. It might be a single sentence or a short story. These moments are almost impossible to capture, even with a camera, and live only in our hearts. Maybe it’s something from your childhood that inexplicably lives with you after all these years.

If you have a #biglittlemoment you would be willing to share with me, please email studio@laurenphelps.com for an opportunity to be featured (anonymously or with your name included - it is your choice) in one of these major future projects.

a loose charcoal sketch of a mother embracing her two children. the mood is playful, sincere, and expressionistic.

If an artwork is produced (sketch, painting, etc.) inspired by your big little moment, I will send you the original signed artwork to keep as a gift of thanks for sharing your moment with me. The delivery timeline is not defined, as these are major lifelong dream projects that will take some time.

To submit your Big Little Moment, please reply here to studio@laurenphelps.com

I N S P I R A T I O N

"I used to dread the frequent night time wake-ups of the younger years and countless hours of lost sleep. But now that they are so few and far between I really embrace those middle of the night taps on my shoulder. I find myself just lifting up the blanket and welcoming their little warm bodies into my arms, breathing in their smell, listening to their little heartbeat all the while knowing how fleeting these little moments are”.

”When my oldest was 4 and we were snuggling in bed, she said: “You were out there in the world and I picked you. Wow, I thought there was no one like that and I picked you.” She melted my heart and reminded me how close children are to the source. I’ve kept a diary of all those little wise magical moments. I treasure them. It’s in the tiniest moments that my children prove to be my greatest spiritual teachers”.

“There’s something about that moment every morning when I open the door to my daughter’s room and there she is, waiting for me with a big smile on her little face, so excited to start the day together. There’s nothing quite like it in the entire world”.

Thank you for your love and vulnerability.

With love,

CAREER REBIRTH

Lauren Phelps

This month, I am teaming up with my dear friend Nicole Katz for CAREER REBIRTH -

giving mothers the inspiration and tools they need to rebirth their careers

Many of you know my story and how I made a drastic career shift post kids. As a serial entrepreneur, empowering and supporting mothers as they find their path has become increasingly important to me. Just as your family stories inspire my art, inspiring you to take ownership of your stories and your life is a place

I hope to serve.

It all started with my mom and what she wished for me, and what she wished she could have done for herself. All of the dreams that were fulfilled and all of the dreams left unrealized. There is no dream, mother, label, or career hierarchy. Whether you are spending this chapter with your children, working full-time in the corporate world, or finding yourself somewhere in between, it’s all about making space for yourself to be better for those around you.

My dear friend Nicole, (the incredible yoga therapist, mother, and fellow career rebirther) and I have had countless conversations about this topic and decided to meld our expertise together and create something to support mothers who find themselves wondering....

What’s next?

“When I became pregnant and left fashion,
I felt lost.

I was journaling and asking, ‘what will my next chapter be?’

The word SERVICE came up again and again.

Telling your family stories and serving you with my art is my passion.

Career Rebirth is just one more place, I hope to serve you.”
— LP

AUTUMN MOMENTS

Parent + ChildLauren Phelps

As summer winds down and autumn approaches, I can’t help but think about the nostalgia of the season. The beginning of the school year was always such an exciting time, and I love being able to experience it in a new way through my kids.

Every new school year reminds me of the fleeting nature of these simple moments and how fast time truly flies. Holding hands on the way to school, crisp leaves crunching underfoot as we walk home from the bus stop - I cherish these early fall memories.

My Big Little Moments sketches capture these memories in a loose and expressionistic way. I am opening up my Fall/Winter 2023 waitlist for a limited number of commissions.

To learn more about the commission’s process and access my extremely limited list, please subscribe to my newsletter here.

I am honored to continue sharing your stories.

With Love,

LP

big little mom|e n t s

Parent + Child, PortraitsLauren Phelps

Over the last few years, “big little moments” has become a big passion project. The story began a few years after I lost my mother to brain cancer when I became pregnant with my first son. I longed for her presence and began searching for my early childhood memories. I then realized it was never the big milestones that were most vivid; it was the seemingly insignificant everyday moments that held my heart. These moments inform my life as a mother and inspire my work.

My limited-edition charcoal sketches were born out of these experiences, and it is my honor to tell your family stories with my art.  

big little moments sketch

Mother + Sons

graphite charcoal and pastel on toned archival paper.

I look forward to sharing some special big little mom|ents with you from some of my favorite moms as we near closer to Mother's Day. Check back here and on social as I continue to share their stories and hopefully spread some love and magic along the way…

black and white photograph of sara naghedi and her three kids walking on a NYC sidewalk

Sara Naghedi | Naghedi NYC

Sally King McBride | The Letter Nest

a black and white photograph of nicole katz of the mat with nicole katz and her two girls.

Nicole Katz | The Mat with Nicole Katz

OIL STUDIES

PortraitsLauren Phelps

Oil painting is one of my favorite mediums. My traditional heirloom portraits are more highly detailed, and I wanted to find a less formal way to utilize my oil paints to capture the beauty of childhood. Thus, oil studies on exposed linen were born! These paintings are created all prima. The dichotomy of the fresh oil painting and the organic texture of the linen on full display is timeless yet modern.

ROBERT | 2022

oil on exposed linen

18 x 24 inches

My background is in fashion, and I wanted to honor the linen fabrication and allow it to have a more prominent place in the artwork. These paintings are looser in style and brushwork and allow even more freedom of expression.

an a la prima oil portrait of a boy on exposed linen

SAM | 2022

oil on exposed linen

18 x 24 inches

This painting of my son is based on a snapshot my husband took at a cafe. I love that it is a real moment caught in time with all of its childish imperfections - his flipped collar, bunched shirt, and ruffled hair. This is childhood.

an oil a la prima portrait on exposed linen of a little girl

MARTHA | 2022

oil on exposed linen

12 x 16 inches

Although my oil waitlist is closed for 2023, I am accepting a select few Oil Study commissions. To reserve, please complete the form here, today.

UPDATED JAN 2023 - OIL STUDIES 2023 SOLD OUT. 2024 LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE.

With Love,

LP

www.laurenphelps.com

MAMA MOMENTS

Lauren Phelps

I’m passionate about moms and celebrate them every day with my work.

There are everyday moments that seem little but are incredibly big to us as mothers. It could be something as small as a look, gesture, or daily ritual. These moments with our children are almost impossible to capture, even with a camera, and live only in our hearts. 

When I decided to transition my career to fine art, I had no idea what my focus would be, but I did know that art was bringing me closer to my bond and memories I shared with my mother. Becoming a mother to my own two boys has brought me full circle in my career, life, and art. 

My limited edition charcoal sketches were born out of these experiences. I hope that I may create something that resembles the emotion and energy of these moments and the love of this bond. 

Because we can all use more beauty and joy, I am sharing #biglittlemoments from some of my favorite mamas.

Elizabeth Damrich / Interior Designer and Creative Director / Mother to Gigi

Elizabeth Damrich / Interior Designer and Creative Director / Mother to Gigi

Julia Berolzheimer / www.juliaberolzheimer.com / Mama to Clementine

Julia Berolzheimer / www.juliaberolzheimer.com / Mama to Clementine

Hunter Bell / www.hunterbellnyc.com / Mama

Hunter Bell / www.hunterbellnyc.com / Mama

Annabelle Moehlmann / www.landofbebe.com / Mama to Clementine

Annabelle Moehlmann / www.landofbebe.com / Mama to Clementine

Maddie Hughes / http://www.maddiehughesdesigns.com/ / Mama to Harry

Maddie Hughes / http://www.maddiehughesdesigns.com/ / Mama to Harry

Renee Bouchon / www.reneebouchon.com / Mama to George

Renee Bouchon / www.reneebouchon.com / Mama to George

Emily Hertz / bornonfifth.com / Mama to Elle and Jennings

Emily Hertz / bornonfifth.com / Mama to Elle and Jennings

Chaffee Braithwaite Heilman / www.babybraithwaite.com / Mama

Chaffee Braithwaite Heilman / www.babybraithwaite.com / Mama

FATHER + CHILD SKETCHES

Lauren Phelps

Dear Friends,

Father’s Day is Sunday, June 21. For a limited time, I am offering the option to commission Father + Child charcoal study sketches for all of the special fathers and grandfathers in our lives. These sketches will be an heirloom quality gift to be enjoyed for many generations. For these commissions, I work from client provided photographs. These photos may be professional or snapshots, but should feel candid and intimate. My parent and child studies are loose, expressionistic artworks capturing the bond of parent and child. To inquire or join my waitlist, please email lp@laurenphelps.com no later than May 1, 2020.

Love,

LP

Blake and Lola, 2020. loose charcoal sketch of a father and young daughter

Blake and Lola, 2020

BLESSINGS IN A BACKPACK

Lauren Phelps

Dear friends,

Our worlds have changed a great deal in the last few weeks. I am now reopening the option to place orders for parent and child study sketches and giving 25% of the proceeds to Blessings in a Backpack in an effort to help children no longer receiving school meals.

While we are working to protect and nurture our children at home, they continue to show us that even the most tragic and uncertain times are full of moments of magic and love. I am so thankful to continue to preserve these big little moments for your families to enjoy for generations to come.

To add your name to my waitlist, please email me directly at lp@laurenphelps.com before April 24, 2020.

Love,

LP

a loose charcoal sketch of a mother and her two children

https://www.blessingsinabackpack.org/ways-to-donate/

PARENT + CHILD STUDIES

Lauren Phelps

Dear friends,

Thank you for your kind reaction to my “big little moments” sketchbook practice. I will offer the option to commission these study sketches for a limited time. The commissioned versions are graphite, charcoal and pastel on archival cotton paper. They are loose, intimate and expressionistic studies of the bond of parent and child. To join the waitlist, please submit your request to studio@laurenphelps.com by February 28, 2020.

Love,

LP

CHARCOAL PORTRAITS

PortraitsLauren Phelps

Dear Friends,

I am introducing the option to commission charcoal portraits. I have always enjoyed a limited color palettes and monochromatic artwork, so it’s no surprise that I have fallen in love with charcoal. I can work from client provided photos (snapshots are welcome upon approval) or you may schedule a sitting with me at my New York City studio. Charcoals are more accessible than oil portraits, but have the same capability of being long time family heirlooms when professionally framed and protected. If you would like to be added to my waitlist, please email studio@laurenphelps.com for more information.

Love,

LP

The Williams Siblings, 2020

The Williams Siblings, 2020

BIG LITTLE MOMENTS

Parent + ChildLauren Phelps

Dear friends,

As I welcome the new year, I am excited to share that I have added a sketchbook practice to my daily agenda. I am taking part in the Brooklyn Art Library’s Tiny Sketchbook project, and my contribution will be part of a traveling library of sketchbooks.

Titled “Big Little Moments,” my sketchbook project is inspired by our biggest little moments as parents and is a celebration of mother and child. Now that nearly 100% of my time is spent on client commissions, this has been a very special place for me to complete quick studies full of intimacy and emotion. I have also used this as an opportunity to experiment with new materials and work freely without restrictions.

It has been the most joyful experience of storytelling and creative expression. I am thrilled to share some of my tiny pages with you here.

Love,

LP

https://brooklynartlibrary.org/tinysketchbook

INTRODUCTION

Lauren Phelps

Dear friends old and new,

Thank you for visiting my virtual home. I began this creative journey two years ago, shortly after the birth of my son. I was working as the COO at Brandon Maxwell after many years of owning my own fashion label. While pregnant, I began to feel a yearning for more creative expression and made the emotional decision to retire from the fashion industry and leave my work family. I had no idea what was to come, but I knew I was on the right path.

I began creating art with my mother as a child. Painting and drawing with my mom account for most of my early memories. When I was 28, I lost my then 48 year old mother to brain cancer. It was devastating, but it has led me down a path of love and gratitude. Now, my life’s work is inspired by this bond and I spend each day celebrating loving parents and their children with my art.

With each artwork, I am seeking to capture not only the emotion of a moment but the soul of each subject. If you are interested in collaborating with me, you may contact me here.

Thank you for trusting me with your most special memories.

Love,

LP

OIL STUDIES ON PAPER

Lauren Phelps

Dear Friends,

I am currently offering the option for oil portrait studies on paper. I love creating these expressive little gem portraits. They are heirloom quality oil portraits on archival paper. When professionally framed, they will remain intact for countless generations to enjoy. For these studies, I work with your provided photos, which can be professional or your own snapshots. For more information, or to add your name to our waitlist, please email studio@laurenphelps.com

Love,

LP