Biography
Lawrence Rich began his artistic journey as a young boy copying his favorite Peanuts characters and writing and illustrating his own books. Little did he realize at the time, the impact of Charles Schultz and the zen-like simplicity of his approach and its influence on his life's work. In his teen years he discovered a new creative passion - playing bass and guitar. After a few years of playing and searching for himself, he discovered an avid interest in Eastern Philosophies and Martial Arts. He continued to immerse himself in this study until he rediscovered his earlier passion for art once again in his 20's. He enrolled in Graphic Design at Red River College in the late 80's when hand rendered design was still taught and valued as the norm. He continued on his own after that through years of live figure drawing through various Art Galleries and Sketch Clubs where he truly honed his craft and learned to appreciate the human form. This is where his drawing skills became loose and lively, eventually being able to truly capture the essence of his subjects. These skills combined with his life experiences, eastern studies and love of music to produce the expressive art he enjoys. Larry has now been making a living as a full time artist for over 16 years. His work has evolved through commercial murals and graphics to something closer and more personal on canvas. To date he has produced over 800 pieces for a wide client base. His presence in galleries and private collections has also evolved to the point where it has become his main passionate pursuit. Larry continues to play the bass in various duo and trio formats at some of the smaller "boutique" venues around Winnipeg. His approach to music follows the same lines as his art - very expressive, creative and personal with an emphasis on space, energy, and vitality. Artist's Statement: 2009 has seen many changes in the evolution of my work in both abstract and image based pieces. In my abstract work, I have been moving more into almost a fantasy inspired landscape of sorts, producing pieces that look, and more importantly, feel like a safe and quiet place to go. I never set out to make my abstract pieces resemble landscapes, however, although I believe I have been trying to capture something that looks foreign yet still feels close to home and the heart. In my image based work, such as the Jazz series and Treescapes, I attempt to paint images that make the viewer feel a part of what they are viewing. In Images, as well as abstract, I prefer to keep the image close and intimate... more of a slice of life. It may be a simple player in close up as opposed to a whole band or a few trees as opposed to a whole forest. A mood and feel of being part of it without the remoteness and disconnectedness of viewing a "scene". Overall, I still work and continue to be influenced by my participation in yoga, eastern arts, philosophy, and jazz music. I feel I am exploring at an even deeper level, the yogic "OM" vibrations of energy through all things. My mission is still to capture the resonance of these things and the energy within and show it through the manipulation of my colour choices, composition, and textures. I continue also to rework, recycle or remove pieces that are no longer reflective of where I am currently. I tend not to remain too attached to my creations, as I understand their purpose as a "snapshot" of where I am at the moment. And that too will continue to change.