Featured Artist Paola Luther

Paola Luther uses strong contrast and luminous color to create vibrant paintings that spring to life. Enjoy more of her work by visiting her website.

 

 

Strong lights and darks. Contrasting colors. Perhaps growing up in a vibrant country like Peru is what planted the first seed for my love of art.

 

 

My earliest memories of grammar school include recording lessons on one side of my page and drawing figures on the other side. My passion for art grew, but my father admonished me to set art aside. Although it may seem harsh to thwart a natural talent out of concerns for economic security, the moniker “starving artist” is not entirely mythical.

 

 

I began my professional career in the import-export industry while living in Lima. An opportunity opened up in the States, and I immigrated. I worked for several years at a consulting firm with a United States development agency focused on helping underdeveloped countries. The position allowed me to travel to many corners of the world. During this time I met my husband, and together we have three children.

 

 

While raising my children, and after many years of working in development consulting outside the home, I set up a studio in my home. I finally realized my dream of becoming a full-time artist. The return began to my first love, art.

 

 

I began with watercolors, and experimented with pastels, gouache, acrylics, ink and charcoal. Over time I developed a particular love for oil painting. As I continued to refine my style, I was invited to juried shows and was hired for commissions. I was honored with multiple awards and commissioned pieces kept me very busy.

 

 

Through my broad experience with a wide range of instructors in the United States and Europe, I started to develop my own teaching techniques. My experience as a mother and my previous career made it easy for me to teach children and adults alike.

 

 

I love to teach art and I love the process of completing a commission. I celebrate the uniqueness of every person and enjoy capturing their vision. What are they trying accomplish? My acute ability to listen combined with patience makes me an extremely effective custom and portrait artisan. I cultivate a sincere and genuine love of people and I bring their vision—uniquely personal—to the canvas.

 

 

They say that paintings are autobiographical. When I am not painting a commissioned piece, I am attracted to painting subjects with strong light and dark and intense color contrast.

 

 

As I continue to paint portraits, I fall in love with people. The more pets I paint, the more I love animals. The more I travel and see the beauty of the landscape, the more I want to paint it.

 

 

I’ve been fortunate to have been invited to residencies and art shows across the United States and Europe. I continue to have an interest in exploring other art mediums as a way to keep my art fresh. It also makes me a more versatile teacher and commission painter.

 

Artist Paolo Luther invites you to follow her on Instagram and Facebook.

 

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