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Lawrence O’Neill is a self-taught artist, oil painter living in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York.
With a long career as an architect and architectural illustrator now in his past, he began to explore the field of landscape painting in just 2016. Growing up, Larry was surrounded by drawings. As the youngest of five “artistic” brothers, drawing was a natural form of communication at home; but manipulating paint on the end of a stick was quite something else. That idea was put on a very, very, back burner.
With his wife offering much encouragement, in 2006 he attended an introduction to oil painting summer class at the School of Visual Arts. This was both illuminating and frustrating. It became clear that “painting” was not just for a “talented” few; it could be learned. There was a system to make advancement and there was a generous and capable community of artists and colleagues to assist in the journey. But career and circumstance suggested putting total immersion on a side track. Thankfully, that track is now clear.
The source of true inspiration was seeing the work of two West Coast artists: Z. Z. Wei, and R. Kenton Nelson. Both are active artists producing exciting, colorfully intense compositions. Once inspired, the last four years have been a deep dive into the many artists and art movements on display in every gallery and museum near home.
Lawrence’s process is first to search out possible scenes and record them in photos and sketches with the intent of capturing the lighting and atmosphere that resonates most emotionally. This is followed by on site, plein-air painting to be later completed in the studio. His art is influenced by the encouragement of his fellow-artists and a lifelong love affair with Brooklyn and the urban chaos we all share.
Contact:
Lawrence O’Neill
cell: 718 249-5639
lgoarch@earthlink.net
With a long career as an architect and architectural illustrator now in his past, he began to explore the field of landscape painting in just 2016. Growing up, Larry was surrounded by drawings. As the youngest of five “artistic” brothers, drawing was a natural form of communication at home; but manipulating paint on the end of a stick was quite something else. That idea was put on a very, very, back burner.
With his wife offering much encouragement, in 2006 he attended an introduction to oil painting summer class at the School of Visual Arts. This was both illuminating and frustrating. It became clear that “painting” was not just for a “talented” few; it could be learned. There was a system to make advancement and there was a generous and capable community of artists and colleagues to assist in the journey. But career and circumstance suggested putting total immersion on a side track. Thankfully, that track is now clear.
The source of true inspiration was seeing the work of two West Coast artists: Z. Z. Wei, and R. Kenton Nelson. Both are active artists producing exciting, colorfully intense compositions. Once inspired, the last four years have been a deep dive into the many artists and art movements on display in every gallery and museum near home.
Lawrence’s process is first to search out possible scenes and record them in photos and sketches with the intent of capturing the lighting and atmosphere that resonates most emotionally. This is followed by on site, plein-air painting to be later completed in the studio. His art is influenced by the encouragement of his fellow-artists and a lifelong love affair with Brooklyn and the urban chaos we all share.
Contact:
Lawrence O’Neill
cell: 718 249-5639
lgoarch@earthlink.net
