Laura Antonelli

Hometown:

Long Island

Statement:

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me" – E. Bombeck

It's three o'clock in the morning, your back hurts, your arm hurts, you've been in there for ten hours, and there are no sounds except for the occasional fire truck. Finally, you put the brush down and ask yourself, 'Man, what am I
doing here?' (John Alexander)

I paint strictly in oil medium with little linseed oil or turpentine, I like my paint thick, chunky, and messy. I tend to paint extremely fast so I always work on two or more paintings at a time, always different bodies of work.  I find that is the only way I don't overwork paintings or want to lock them away. 

The landscapes I paint are personal, private places I've never gone to. They are places in my imagination and I only can dream of standing in those fields and on those beaches with the wind in my hair.  I don't like to include people in my landscapes, I feel they are imposing themselves on the beauty of the trees, the skies and the waves. 

Background:

I have been an artist since I was 3, when I killed my sisters fish because I tried to paint it purple.  I thought "watercolor" meant it was ok to paint in it's water bowl.  (I wasn't) 

As a child I boldly declared I would become an artist when I grew up, and now I am...Grown up, and an artist. It was the only statement I've ever made that turn out to be so truthful.  My entire life I have spent in the mist of charcoal, printmaking, oil pastels and newsprint.  As a student, my grades road on my art classes, I am not ashamed to admit I still can't add or subtract fractions or explain physics to you.  I can however, teach you how to make art, to paint, to understand that 'happy mistakes' are the best part of your paintings.  I have assisted in many private art clases, was a teaching assistant for a "Literacy Through Photography" program for ESL students, and have taught fine arts and ceramics for the past 9 months.

Upcoming Events:

http://lartantonelli.blogspot.com/