Laura in Black by Joshua LaRock

"This work represents the third time my wife has agreed to sit for me. Each time she does, a sort of ineffable alchemy occurs, embodying something of my love for her, and resulting in a special work which is more than the sum of drawing, oil and pigments. I was searching to find an aesthetic which balances my desires to stay true to classical ideals, influences and techniques, while speaking in a modern idiom, striking a resonant tone with contemporary hearts. To that end, I sought a gesture and expression, along with a subdued color palette, that is wistful, evoking a vague but deep longing. Her gaze is warm, sensitive and direct, but also a bit distant, searching for something unknown, and the unfinished, frenetic brushstrokes around the perimeter leave an unresolved tension. This, I believe, is a distinctly modern attitude. The drawing and painting process was done entirely from life and under a north facing skylight in Manhattan. It was filmed from start to finish as the subject of an instructional video produced by a new company two colleagues (Michael Klein and Louis Carr) and I are developing, named artDisciple. The film will be released soon." - Joshua LaRock