Artist Statement by Eric Laprade

 

My work is inspired by nature, spirituality, and many social influences. I utilize meditative practices and listen to music during my creative process. As I paint, I am immersed in each stroke of the brush, getting lost in the developing texture and blending colors. Many of my paintings begin with a clear vision that later shifts into a completely different direction. I rely on intuition and how the painting is making me feel to determine it's evolution. I often must revisit paintings to complete them. Sometimes upon return I see or feel something different about the image that I may have overlooked. This usually leads me to consider introducing new elements. Capturing specific moments, feel, and spirit is important to me. A keen focus on luminosity, movement, and energy are key attributes in making each painting emotionally impactful to myself and the viewer. When I paint I am challenged to generate surprise moments on canvas to form my interpretation of realistic settings.

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New England land and seascapes are very inspirational to my work. I am moved by the ocean and the ever shifting tides, or how light glistens on its surface as winds gust. I enjoy capturing sunsets and dynamic cloud formations of a passing storms. In addition to painting landscapes and nature, I am passionate about painting portraits. Particularly I am drawn to pay tribute to female musical artists. Every musician I choose has dealt with many trials and tribulations of their times. The hardships and successes each has endured inspires my paintings to tell a story in a personal and subtle way. Each painting is created after some research about the artist and only then do I decide what message I want the painting to convey. I enjoy listening to their music to truly feel part of the message and personality, absorbing myself in the lyrics.

 

My hope with my work is that the viewer feels the same amount of passion and intrigue as I feel when I am painting. My goal in life is to share experiences through my art, in doing so creating my own happiness.

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Artist Bio

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Eric Laprade is a Franco/American artist from Woonsocket, Rhode Island. He completed his BFA with a concentration in Graphic Design from Rhode Island College. From a very early age, Eric could be found doodling and absorbed in his artwork. His passion for visual arts has further evolved over time. Eric began painting full time in 2015 after several years working professionally in corporate management. 

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