Lynn Letourneau

Biography

Lynn Letourneau is a contemporary painter, born in Brooklyn, NYC. Eventually, I moved to San Francisco and began a fifteen- year career in various healing modalities and grew fascinated in sculpting figures in clay. As a healer, I learned to intuit color and energy and interpret its meaning.  As a sculptor, I translated this transformative experience into an art form. Newly married, my creative process morphed into the world of Abstract Expressionism.
"Painting abstractly connects me to an intuitive, emergent, Source. A visual language of personal and archetypal images will appear bridging the inner and outer worlds. I rely on my heart, body and instincts to guide me. I discern, make choices and the painting mirrors back to me how to proceed. .Applying rhythmic layers of color onto the canvas, I make use of a variety of tools: palette knife, rubber tips, brushes and paint. Harmonic, playful and contextual interplays of color begin to demonstrate the infinite stream of information in the abstract universe of paint and canvas.”
We are all aware of today’s global challenges.  They drive us to connect and live a more conscious life. Paintings mirror aspects of the collective consciousness and can contribute to architect a new, inclusive future.
I have designed an art curriculum called “Create Inside Out” to hopefully inspire others to experience more creative freedom.
For 20 years, I have exhibited on-line, in major art fairs such as New York Art Expo, LA Art Fair, museums such as the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, galleries in Italy, NYC, Laguna Beach, LA, Santa Barbara, Ventura and publications.

What’s your background?

I was born in Brooklyn, NYC and raised on Long Island, NY.

I had the great cultural opportunity to visit NYC galleries and museums. It was my passion to observe and learn from the masters there. At the Arts Students League, NYC, I sketched from the same models that had sat for Matisse. NYC was a cultural mecca for me. Upon graduation, I spent some time studying painting at the Boston Museum School of Fine Art. For 10 years,  I lived in a Hindu Monastery, The Holy Shankaracharya Order, USA where I learned meditation, yoga and being of service. Eventually, I moved to San Francisco and was trained in various healing modalities. As a healer, I learned to intuit color and energy and interpret its meaning.  As a sculptor, I translated this transformative experience into an art form. I learned sculpting at the Fort Mason Center in San Francisco, CA.  At Antioch West, CA I earned a Degree in Transpersonal Psychology and Hindu Studies. Newly married, I moved to Santa Barbara and felt the desire to paint. My creative process morphed into the world of Abstract Expressionism.

What does it mean to you to win the Collectors Art Prize?

I feel honored to be recognized in this field of contemporary painting. It will mean I have a larger audience to connect to.  I am succeeding at what I love to do. The color, form and shapes that move through me as I paint, translate into a visual language that is appreciated and understood.

What do you think is the role of art in the world today?

We are all co-creating a reality.  Artists are interpreters of the human experience.  Art mirrors aspects of the collective consciousness and this can contribute to architect a new, inclusive future. Inclusive in that when someone views art they are having a direct experience and having a congruent response to it. Art can influence and entertain, beautify and repel, educate and mystify, connect us to the mystical realms and then bring us back to Earth.

What would it be if you could change one thing about the art world?

More funding.  to glorify and express art through different cultures.

It would be great to have more educational and financial support for aspiring, young artists in High School and college. Make it a priority for states and cities in the USA to support art. More grants to fund artists, art business start- ups, non-profits and art festivals.

What are your most significant professional achievements?

2012 - Liberated Dreams exhibit, Trevisan International, Estense Castle, Ferrara, Italy, 2013 -Affordable Art Fair, 2014 -New York Art Expo, ,2014 LA Art Show, 2016-17 teaching Create Inside/Out classes, Ventura, CA.

 2018- Art Tour International, Top 60 Maters of Contemporary Art, 2021- Circle Foundation for the Arts Featured Artist, chosen for Circle Arts Magazine

What do you wish to tell viewers about your work that might not come out explicitly? What do you hope to inspire with your artwork? What do you hope to inspire with your artwork?

The three paintings I chose for the Planet Future Show are examples of how I approach painting and wish to share with you. For example, “Light as a Feather” relates to how aware we all are of today’s challenges yet they are an urgent driver to live a more conscience life. Tuning into this, I painted out “What does it feel like to move through life light as a feather?”  To trust the process?

 While painting “Fortitude”. I found myself using dynamic colors, and shapes that were warrior like.

The painting was expressing the resilience, courage and strength required to live in this great time of possibility.

“Ribbon Play” emerged rapidly as an inside/out version of ribs, pelvis and legs. I used a rubber tipped tool which looked like ribbons

 at play.  Aren’t we all growing and learning how to live life from the inside/out? A soul having a human experience?

What advice would you give to the upcoming generation of artists?

Do not give in to the inner critic of your art.  Turn the critic into an ally, a teacher on how to improve and grow best for you. Be Flexible and be willing to make mistakes.  This will take you to the next level of your art. You matter.  There is always an audience to connect to.

Remember, it is a journey.

In what direction would you like to see your career go in the next five years?

I would like to teach Create Inside/Out online and in person.  Encouraging others to experience the joy and freedom of creative expression.

Travel to inspiring places on Earth and paint my experiences abstractly.  Share it with the locals and later create a show celebrating life.

Country USA

Website www.lynnletourneau.com