MEDIA: Scratchboard Artist
MAP TO Seth’S STUDIO: 209 S Rogers St, Bloomington, IN 47404
ELLEN’S WEBISTE: lagrangeartistry.com
CONTACT: LaGrangeArtistry@gmail.com or 812-686-1081
My name is Seth LaGrange and I’m a full time artist specializing in scratchboard art but I also dabble in other mediums such as graphite drawing and water-based inks.
I am a professionally trained Wildlife Biologist and worked as a research scientist for many years before becoming a full-time artist. I’ve worked with many threatened and endangered species such as Timber Rattlesnakes, Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnakes, Allligator Snapping Turtles, and Hellbender Salamanders. Because of this background, much of my art features animals or the natural world. I hope to promote the conservation of our natural world through my artwork.
I have loved animals since before I can remember and have had all manner of pets throughout the years. When I was little I was notorious for bring snakes and turtles inside the house and keeping them as pets much to the dismay of my mother and sister. I also have always had a great love of drawing and these two loves meshed together quite nicely as I would fill sketchbooks with drawings of wildlife. My favorite book was an art book called “Illustrating Nature” by Dorothea and Sy Barlowe. I would pour over this book trying to draw all the amazing animals within in it. It still sits on my shelf today. As I got older, my two loves grew with me. I took art and biology classes through high school and decided to go to college for Wildlife Biology. I graduated from Purdue University with B.S. in Wildlife and then received my M.S. in Zoology from Southern Illinois University. I worked as a biologist on various projects for nearly 10 years before a move for my wife’s new job left me at a turning point career wise.
I stayed at home with our two youngest children for a little while and then took a job doing something completely outside my area of expertise. It didn’t take long to realize that these two things were not for me. I had always wanted to have my own business and finally came to the conclusion that I should get back to my love of making art. I had done commissions in the past and figured I’d give it a shot. And now here I am. While still uncertain the future looks bright!