Lara Williams by her Lakeside Retreat, Maine.
As early as I can remember I have loved walking in the woods, the smell of pine needles after a rainfall, and the waves crashing against a shoreline. My father, an avid lover of nature, and my mother a beach worshiper passed these appreciations along to me. Growing up on Long Island New York, many of my summer days were spent boating on Long Island Sound, swimming at the beach, and playing in tidal pools. Family vacations consisted of camping, fishing, and hiking through-out New York State, New England, and Maine. At about age 10, I started showing a great interest in the visual arts spending countless hours in my bedroom drawing. My grandparents took notice, and paid for art lessons to support this interest. In High School I dedicated my free time inside the art room. When I was a Junior in High School my art teacher encouraged me to enter into a New York State student art contest. I took her advice, created a piece for the competition, entered it and won an award. This experience gave me the confidence to apply to a college art program, and to continue my journey as an artist.
After 4 years of studying painting, printmaking, and art history I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at SUNY Plattsburgh, New York 92’. From here I moved to Boston Massachusetts where I settled into the local art scene while working at Pearl Art & Crafts in Cambridge. I would work 9-5 by day and paint by night. I started entering juried shows, and exhibiting my work. Showings among others included a Solo show at Sunset cafe’ in Cambridge, and a Juried Show titled Works on Paper at The Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield MA, Juried by Jerry Saltz, Senior Art Critic, New York Magazine, 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Art Criticism. Awards around this time included “1st prize for Art” and “1st prize for Watercolor" for The Tower, at the 1996 Pembroke arts festival, Pembroke, MA.
In the Spring of 2019, I decided that it was the right time to return to showing my art publicly, now that my twin sons are older and more independent. At about this time I began working with Encaustic; a beeswax and tree resin based medium that can be used in various techniques, and with multiple different mediums incorporating the use of a heated palette.
As an adult My love for nature is still apparent as reflected in all my work. I am fortunate to reside by the ocean in Hull, Massachusetts, a constant source for inspiration.
For more information about Lara, you can find her and more of her artwork online at the following:
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.larawilliamsfineart.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/larawilliamsfineart
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/larawilliamsfineart
Artist Statement
“Get outside!” I say to myself when life becomes a dizzying array of tedious to do’s. I throw on whatever the appropriate footwear may be at the moment and go. A long intense walk in the snow covered woods or a ponderous stroll along the sun drenched beach. I stop and stare at natures wonders. I am humbled by its beauty, power and presence. It carries my sub conscience away to a serene, solace place. I welcome the calm like a warm embrace. mindfulness can be hard to find.
I bring my camera. I want to capture the stormy sky, the ever-changing light that plays off a tree limb, the glistening sunlight breaking through the canopy of a forest, the trees casting their shadows along a footpath, the explosiveness of wildflowers blooming in a field, the contrast of a horizon against the vastness of the ocean but these photos are just the beginning.
When I return to my studio I want to recreate those places, and the feelings they evoked. I splice up my photos, heat up the wax, organize my brushes, choose my paint colors, and peel the paper covering my Pastels.
I want to share with my viewer what I saw and felt.
Nature is my muse.