Kara Lasiewicz

My work depicts happiness and thoughtfulness in portraiture.  Being new to the scene of submitting work for exhibitions and competitions I enjoy focusing on happy and thought-provoking subject matter as it correlates well with my personal endeavors as of late.  The use of value, color and marks shown in the portraits and the ways they are applied are fairly new techniques to me as I painted many landscapes in the past and considered myself more of a potter than a painter.  I am challenging myself and pushing myself outside my comfort zone with portraiture as I struggle with areas such as proportion or proper placement and size relationships of corridors of light and shadow.  With practice I know I will develop skill and it is exciting to see progression in the portraits.  Since I am using photographs as a reference, seeing the photos as potential paintings while taking the photo is also an exciting way to learn how to look (such as the example with “Ethereal”; the moment I set up the shot and took it I knew I wanted to paint it).  To catch a snapshot in time but then to have it ‘move’ and be sculpted into a painting is exciting!

I enjoy combining my passion for painting, photography, and pottery when capturing images of my subjects and inspirations and then sculpting those images through the building of marks.  Creating unique and challenging works that deviate from, and go beyond, the photo or model is all part of the narrative I wish to create through painting.  I find it interesting to leave evidence of process, enjoying the process, and also getting lost in the process along the way. 

“Abditory”, oil on canvas, 14″x11″ 2022

“Alex”, oil on canvas, 24″x30″
2018

“Babushka”, oil on canvas, 20″x20″
2021
“Dorthonion” 2023