Frank LaLumia

People are curious about art-its genesis, the influences that have brought it to where it is today; in other words, why it looks like it does. It is a question to which I have given a lot of thought.
With regards to my own work, I see two major influences: First is my experience as a plein air painter; and Second is my experience working in both oil and watercolor.

Painting from life is the great teacher. It was my first impulse, even before I fully realized its importance. Back then, it wasn’t even ‘plein air painting’. It was just going out, trying to learn something about art, about life. I wasn’t doing it for a wet-painting show or any other immediate benefit. It was a way of life. It was my way. 
Plein Air Painting is our interface with the world. Observation of nature is the beginning of everything. Plein air painting is both an end in itself, and an access point for further creativity. It teaches us lessons without adding on the mannerisms of charismatic teachers or other artists we admire. It is a point of honesty in an often cynical art world.

My second major influence is working in both Oil and Watercolor. Working in two media has created a cross-fertilization of ideas, which in turn has energized the work. The two media are not always congruent due to the nature of oil and water. The ideas shared are intuitive. They manifest in surprising ways.
The result of these two influences is that over the years, the body of work looks more like itself and less like that of my teachers or other influences. It has helped me find my own voice in painting.

Memberships

Signature Member Emeritus and Past President of the
Plein Air Painters of America (P.A.P.A.),

A Signature Member of:
The American Watercolor Society (A.W.S.),
The Oil Painters of America (O.P.A.),
The National Watercolor Society (N.W.S.),
The Transparent Watercolor Society of America (T.W.S.A.),
The American Impressionist Society (A. I. S.),

An Artist-Member of:
The California Art Club


Frank is the Author of the Book  PLEIN  AIR  PAINTING  IN WATERCOLOR  AND  OIL,  North Light Publications

Frank is a Contributing  Artist  for the P.B.S. Series:
PLEIN AIR: PAINTING THE AMERICAN LANDSCAPE.