This biography
from the archives of AskART.com.
Santa Fe
artist Frank La Lumia is noted for his
paintings in watercolor and oil.
Born in 1948 in
Chicago
,
Illinois
, he was raised in
Libertyville
,
Illinois
. He received his B.A. from
Bradley
University
in
Peoria
, and also studied at the
American
Academy
of Art in
Chicago
. In 1977, he devoted himself to painting
full-time.
During the past decade he has taught at Plein-Air Painters of America
Workshops,
Bennington
,
VT
, and
Colorado Springs
,
CO
; and at watercolor workshops in
Santa Fe
,
NM
; as well as at oil painting workshop at the
Mabel Dodge Lujan House in
Taos
,
NM
.
In
Italy
, from where La Lumia's father originates, the
family name means 'the light', and light has been an inspiration to his art. In
describing his work, La Lumia has said: "Painting from life is the moment
of truth. If you can paint light, you can paint everything under the sun. The
essential fact of my work, from a technical standpoint, is working in both oil
and watercolor. The cross fertilization of ideas, along with the plein-air
experience in both media, has produced a body of work that every day looks more
like itself and less like that of my teachers or mentors."
The artist has traveled widely seeking inspiration, among varied cultures and
landscapes.
His subject matter reflects wide-ranging interests. Themes of the American
southwest are prominent, including landscape, figurative, and cultural aspects
of the region. Painting trips to
China
,
India
,
Nepal
,
Guatemala
,
Mexico
,
Morocco
and
Europe
have also influenced his eye. Subjects that are special to
him include mother and child, especially in the animal kingdom. He is also
attracted to village scenes, church interiors, and remote landscapes. Some of
his works in recent years have depicted
Yellowstone
National Park
, and Kachinas of the Southwest.
La Lumia's national affiliations include Signature Member, Plein-Air Painters
of America. Signature Member, National Watercolor Society. Out-of-State Artist
Member,
California
Art Club. Signature Member,
New Mexico
Watercolor Society. Signature Member,
Knickerbocker Artists. Signature Member, Oil Painters of
America
.
Frank La Lumia is also the author of the book 'Plein Air Painting in Watercolor
and Oil'.
He has been featured in several articles and books including: Best of
Watercolor; Horizon Magazine, '87; Southwest Art, October '94; Watercolor,
summer '99; and Watercolor Magic, winter, 2000. |