Crystal Lauren is a self taught abstract artist. I was born and raised in Chicago and now reside in California. I have been influenced by the arts every since I was a child. I was a "In The Closet" painter for 20 years. It was in 2008 when I decided to put a painting on Ebay and it sold. I have sold 13 painting on Ebay to collectors throughout the United States and Internationally. I have done several exhibitions since then. An idea for a piece can come from any number of places, a certain frame of mind, or the music I am listening to as I paint. Sometimes it's as simple as the canvas speaking directly to me. A majority of the time I begin with a single color, without a theme or intention in mind. The story unfolds as I paint coming to life without force or corercion. A piece is done whe the story is told. There have been times when the story evolves so much that I create paintings on top of paintings.