The creative world of Laura Bachynski
Laura Bachynski’s career in music began early on, sparked by a challenge from her uncle when she was a child in Ontario. He placed a guitar in a room full of kids and declared that whoever learned to play it first could keep it. Laura, determined, took on the challenge and won, kindling the dawn of her lifelong love affair with music.
Growing up, Bachynski also faced some tough challenges. Being born with congenital hip dysplasia, resulted in surgeries which ultimately led to a diagnosis with severe osteoarthritis. Living with this debilitating illness made moving around difficult, but sitting still was also difficult. She began spending more time with her guitar, composing songs and finding solace in music.
Throughout her career, Bachynski has released three albums, each reflecting her diverse musical tastes. Her songs span multiple genres, from folk to country, rock, jazz, and even Cuban rhythms, showcasing her passion for musical exploration. She is currently working on a fourth album, inspired by her experiences with pain, featuring themes of love, faith, and human connection.
One of Bachynski’s most beloved projects is the Front Porch Concert Series, which she and her husband started during the pandemic. The idea came about as a way to keep performing despite the lockdowns. “We wanted to keep playing music, and since we couldn’t gather indoors, we decided to perform outside,” Bachynski explains. The concerts, held on the last Sundays of June, July, and August, bring neighbours together to enjoy live music right from her front yard. It’s a simple yet beautiful way to build community and support local artists. “It’s just great to see people come together, enjoy music, and support each other,” Laura says. “We love doing these concerts, and it’s even better knowing we’re helping out the artists.”
In addition to her music, Bachynski is a talented visual artist, painting beautiful scenes including landscapes, people, automobiles, buildings and most anything that inspires her. She recently wrapped up her first solo art show at Edmonton’s Bay 1 Gallery which featured her exhibit “Ways To Get There,” encapsulating the essence of vintage cars, trucks, bikes and boats. Her artistic endeavours go beyond personal fulfillment. Bachynski is deeply committed to giving back to her community. She donates 80% of the proceeds from her art sales to charities that are close to her heart.
Despite her many achievements, Bachynski is down-to-earth and eager to encourage others. Her advice to aspiring artists is straightforward: “Stick with it, work hard, and you can make a good living,” she says, sharing the wisdom of her brother, a renowned guitarist. She knows the struggles of making a living in the arts but believes in the value of persistence and passion.
Looking to the future, Bachynski wants to keep creating and sharing her art and music, even as she deals with the challenges of arthritis. “Creating makes me happy,” she says. “It helps me forget about what I’m going through.” She encourages everyone to support local artists by buying original art to help keep the creative community thriving.
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