Lauren Bird picked up her first crayon at age three with flames in her eyes. She was a kid living in an Alaskan log cabin, spilling over with stories inspired by the birch forest she lived in and the books she loved. Being the middle child in a homeschooled family meant lots of alone time, so she played in the woods, watched Surf’s Up way too much, and drew pictures of mouse people kissing (Geronimo Stilton fanaticism). Mom, supportive as ever, got tired of mouse doodles and put her kid in “real” drawing lessons at age 10, where Lauren realized that she could learn how to excel at something she already liked doing! Good deal. 

Middle school and most of high school were the fine art days. Her teachers defined art representationally, so Lauren painted a photo study of Janis Joplin for an entire school year. It is still to date her most realistic painting and will be unfinished forever. Rest in peace twice, Janis. 

Despite all the drawing, an artistic career was a vague concept to Lauren. She hadn’t grown up around creatives. Her parents worked in the medical field; her extended family were farmers, engineers, and receptionists. In her mind, being an artist meant selling paintings in galleries, which didn’t seem appealing. But she kept drawing anyway, confident she would figure something out.  

It wasn’t until she pursued digital painting and online art circles that Lauren learned about the world of entertainment art. Allegedly, there are people somewhere who actually make a living bringing imagination to life, even for cartoons! Art for the sake of silliness and irreverence reminded her of the kissing mice in her math book margins, and it dawned on her that the feeling of creating for fun was a real pursuit. Discovery turned to obsession when she chose to chase visual development as far as it could take her. 

It took her to Detroit. Which seems kind of random, but it was a good fit. 

She studied Illustration at the College for Creative Studies – yes, in Detroit – and gradually honed in on just how wacky she likes to get in her art. It takes years to loosen up when you’re spending 9 months at a time on one Joplin. On a whim, she applied to the Nick Artist Program, thinking that it would be good practice for the second or third or fourth time she’d inevitably reapply. Instead, she got the news that she’d been accepted in the middle of her senior year. First time’s the charm. 

Lauren has a lot to look forward to in 2025, seeing that she’ll be completing the program simultaneous to completing her degree. The most exciting news, however, is that her dream of contributing to animation is coming true! Look out.