A native Californian artist, Laura Almada, was born in San Jose, California and grew up on a small farm north of Sacramento. After studying art at U.C. Santa Barbara and San Jose State University, she began her career as a professional artist and illustrator in 1981. She has traveled and worked with clients from Europe to Asia, and from South America to Alaska.

Laura began creating animal mandalas in 1988 while living in Hawaii and working on a fine art poster collection with several other Hawaiian artists. Like many others before her, she found the raw, natural beauty of Hawaii and its native fauna inspirational. After a particularly magical scuba diving experience, she began to be hounded by a recurring dream of golden dolphins swimming in a pink sea, as if the light of the tropical sunrise had recolored all of nature. Little did she know at the time, but she had met her first totem animal guide. Guided by the spirit of the golden dolphin, she began to study various natural-healing techniques, and in 1995 became a Traditional Reiki Master. That same year, while studying crystal healing techniques with renowned author/crystal healer Melody, she began integrating gemstone energies into her paintings.

Laura creates paintings that not only inspire, but also bring about positive changes when placed in one's environment. Each painting has its own particular target of healing, whether it is spiritual, physical or emotional. Laura also works with individual clients, helping them to discover rapport with their own guides, and creating personal mandalas that bring to light the individual's own inner beauty and guidance. She is truly grateful to have the opportunity to do this magical work on earth.