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About Artist:
http://www.blankstudio.com/artist.htm Few children can define their future career with absolute determination at age eight, except perhaps those born gifted with a natural driving talent. Lauri Blank is one such example. As a child her teachers became aware of her special talent when her early paintings began winning awards. At age ten her already recognized work finally caught the attention of the Norton Museum who placed her art in the prestigious National Exhibition Tour. Since 1984 to the present, Lauri's resume is a littany of one-man shows, Art expos, commissions, limited editions and now her most rewarding challenge - The Grammy Awards. Inspired by the masters, Lauri absorbed all written material she could acquire. She was spellbound by the Raphaelite era and felt an irresistible urgency to paint in that manner. Uninhibited by conventional training, her talent took on an original life of its own; an unblemished romantic renaissance style forgotten by commercially driven modern day trends. Her courage and persistence only sharpened her talents and finally paid off. Lauri's style of melding the techniques and icons of the old masters with today's cultural ideology, has slowly won acclaim. Her powerful images--her passion and devotion to a unique style comes through the canvas and transports the viewer into a by-gone era, bringing a sense of peace and reflection to the modern day world. Lauri's work is highly regarded as part of a revival movement of nostalgic realism. Her pieces are sought after by collectors nationwide.
Statement:
http://grammy.aol.com/features/0223_blank.html GRAMMY Magazine - February 23, 2002 44th GRAMMYs Artwork Is Picture Perfect Lauri Blank's still life captures the spirit of our time It is appropriate that this year's GRAMMY Awards artwork reflects the high level of professional expertise and skilled craftsmanship recognized by thousands of creative and technical professionals affiliated with the worldwide recording industry. Lauri Blank, the celebrated American figurative painter, was selected to create the painting for the 44th Annual GRAMMY Awards poster because of the grace and dignity inherent in her canvases, which display her ability to capture the wonderful spirit of the annual awards and at the same time incorporate the unifying patriotic theme of our time. The specially commissioned painting is a distinct departure from the vibrantly colored post-Pop Art inspired works created for recent GRAMMY productions by such noted contemporary artists as Peter Max, Alexandra Nechita, Rick Garcia and Romero Britto. "Lauri has captured both the spirit of the GRAMMY Awards and the emotion of our time in this vibrant work," said Recording Academy President/CEO Michael Greene, who spearheaded the concept of the work. "This is the first time we have ever used a still life for our official GRAMMY artwork and she elegantly reflects the essence and spirit that the GRAMMYs seek to inspire." Artist Lauri Blank & Recording Academy President/CEO Michael Greene The central object in the painting is a masterful photorealist rendition of the GRAMMY statuette. A close inspection of the old-time gramophone's surface reveals a dramatic secret self-portrait of the artist in the studio, with other objects, such as doorway and windows. As she began to design the still life surrounding the GRAMMY, Blank soon realized that everything had to be removed from the studio in order to present a clear, uncomplicated reflection. These elongated and abstracted narrative lines offer a spirited human touch that inventively adds additional character and visual poetry to the recognizable shiny icon known to millions around the world. The gold-colored reflective record player of vintage design is appropriately symbolic as it stands for the encouragement and recognition of experimentation and innovation in the field of recording, also reflected in the artist's unique vision displayed here. A shimmering green velvet cloth becomes the aesthetic foundation for the central gramophone image. A small hint of the U.S. flag proudly presents the intricately sewn fabric in red, white and blue. The flag was borrowed from a friend's husband, who is a firefighter, according to Blank, giving it both personal and timely significance. These successful compositional elements add a lyrical touch of drama that sets a stately and engaging stage for the recording industry's most prestigious award. It is indeed appropriate that a talented visual artist at the top of her career like Lauri Blank was chosen to illustrate the spirit of extraordinary achievement inherent in the history of these awards. She has an extensive exhibition history with major solo shows in a variety of unique environments, such as Palm Beach, Fla., and Washington, D.C. She has received national recognition from exhibitions at the New York and Los Angeles Art Expositions, and her paintings have been on a national traveling show sponsored by the Norton Museum of Art. Her commissions are from leading collectors and galleries, including a commission for an 18th century Romanian church in Montreal and a Baroque-style dome in Virginia. Blank's work has generally been figurative over the past 20 years. Her influences are the luxurious, classical paintings of Rubens and Raphael. As with the GRAMMY design, she normally chooses a dark, mysterious background in order to emphasize the radiant color that is incorporated into her compositions. The darkened background also allows the viewer to concentrate on the remarkable hyper-realistic detail that she achieves in each work. The artist's canvases are also reminiscent of the neo-classic Baroque style. Blank celebrates the best ingredients of traditional picture making by refining her carefully crafted brushstrokes so that a wonderful illusion of space is created. Most of Blank's subject matter deals with intensive romantic themes sometimes within mythological scenes that illustrate complex, figurative compositional elements and rich, convincing perspective. In one of her better known works, "Cleopatra Surprising Caesar," Blank has developed a complicated theatrical backdrop, complete with ancient hieroglyphics and detailed Egyptian columns that support a darkened corridor down a disappearing exit. Cleopatra is wearing a flowing green gown and a shimmering gold, decorative helmet, that is positioned like the gold GRAMMY Award in the exact middle of the design. In all her complex compositions, faces interact with highly charged moments of passion, temptation and adventure; a goal every artist, musicians alike, ascribes to. Lauri Blank has filled her life with a high level of adventure and her studio with a mystifying presence of another age of beauty, intrigue and achievement. Her natural talent for visually articulating objects celebrates the essence and grace of the GRAMMYs by incorporating her unique, recognizable style for all of us to enjoy. – Bruce Helander (Bruce Helander is an artist who writes about art. He contributes to The New Yorker magazine and is currently working on a one-man show at Burton Marinkovich Fine Art in Washington, D.C.)
History:
http://thegoodlifemag.com/in_issue/blank.htm Lauri Blank. Ft. Lauderdale's very own Michael Angelo. How many people can say they are living out their dream? While many struggle to recognize where their true passions lie, artist Lauri Blank is the epitome of a woman experiencing life to its fullest extent in the throes of her artistic potential. Her reality is a fusion of her dream and her passion. Originally from Pennsylvania, Lauri relocated to Florida with her family when she was nine. At about the same time she discovered a deep appreciation for classical art. Her mother nurtured her daughter's budding talent and curiosity with frequent trips to local museums. Lauri devoured information on the great masters that so intrigued her and vowed to paint in their eternal style. She knew from these influential trips that art was her calling. "I just knew I was going to be an artist. A lot of my teachers started submitting my art into contests and I kept winning. It was the only thing I really ever wanted to do. I can't recall ever not painting." After thinking a moment she adds passionately, "I can't imagine ever doing anything else." Lauri, an extremely attractive young woman who is quickly becoming part of America's newest wave of fine artists, lives in a beautiful Fort Lauderdale condominium overlooking the timeless, endless blue of the Atlantic Ocean. The warmth, comfort and tranquility of her home form an environment ripe for flowing creativity. After an initial introduction and tour of her home, art quickly becomes the focal point of conversation. The artist defines her style of painting as, "nostalgic-realism," realistic in its physical appearance, but having the ability to take the viewer back to another time. She has the uncanny ability to merge past and present through ageless themes, her style a sophisticated throwback to Renaissance masters like Reubens, Raphael, and Michelangelo. Her intent is to draw the viewer into the painting, and allow them to form their own interpretation based on their own personal journey. "I want people to relate to the painting through their own life experiences," Lauri explains, "I want my paintings to have a genuine significance to each person." Her innovative style captures and holds the viewer's eye with the use of deep, warm tones; vibrant and lush, velvety reds; and regal blues. Facial expressions portray the depth of human emotion with a softness and sensitivity, their features sensual and beautiful. The dramatic lights and dark shadows add to the subtlety of each work of art, pushing the images forward as the viewer is drawn inside. "I want my images to be rich, detailed and romantic," adds Lauri, " I want my paintings to make a real impact, to stand out." Lauri's experiences as an artist have been exciting and rare. Three years ago, she had the opportunity to paint the ceiling of an eighteenth century cathedral in Montreal, Canada. On a six-story high scaffold, she toiled intently for four months in near solitude. She strived to create realistic images, paying extremely close attention to detail as she developed her giant masterpiece. The palette she used accentuated the swirling motion of this domed creation with intense, riveting blues and pure, bright whites. Lauri wistfully recalls the cathedral's unveiling. "When the ceiling was completed, and they shined the lights on it, it was absolutely magical. It just glowed. That was such a spiritual experience, one I'll never forget." The artist also remembers a mythological series an art collector commissioned Lauri to create. "It was an intense labor of love and very elaborate. The collector would create a mythological story or it would be based on actual Greek mythology. There were so many details the collector wanted. Each painting in the collection was of mammoth proportions. The collection, which took me years to complete, really allowed me to perfect many skills and techniques as an artist. A painting from this collection, ORescue of Psyche, can be seen on my website." www.blankstudio.com Lauri devotes most of her time to her craft. "Being an artist is tough at times. I don't really have time for a social life, I spend long periods of time by myself, but it's definitely worth it. I am very happy with both my life and my career." Within the past year, her career has certainly taken off. Her immeasurable talent has earned well deserved national acclaim and praise. Former Grammy CEO Michael Green sought Lauri to assist with the logo for the 44th Annual Grammy Awards. "Lauri captured both the spirit of the Grammy Awards and the emotion of our time in this vibrant work," said Greene, who spearheaded the concept of the work. "This is the first time we have ever used a still life for our official Grammy artwork and she elegantly reflects the essence and spirit that the GRAMMYs seek to inspire." The design was a departure from past post-Pop art works by such noted contemporary artists as Peter Max, Alexandra Nechita, Rick Garcia and Romero Britto. She enthusiastically welcomed this special opportunity and the project was a huge success. "I definitely wanted to do something more serious because of 9/11," she remembers. She painted the elegant, golden Grammy trophy shrouded symbolically with an American flag. Light dramatically reflects off the trophy while the flag vividly and carefully is shaded, casting a subtle, dark shadow. The painting metaphorically represents American freedom and creative expression. Of this experience Lauri beams, "It was a great honor and I had a lot of fun." In addition to the exciting experiences Lauri's work has enabled her, painting serves a much deeper purpose for the artist, a chance to release her emotions on canvas, to relive past experiences and to search her soul. Her painting "Summer" transports her into her past. "I thought of what summer symbolized to me, how I felt during a warm summer day." Lauri finds this introspective approach to painting very therapeutic. "Painting allows you to become in-tune with your inner-psyche," Lauri muses. Of her painting "Garden of Forgiveness" which depicts a sorrowful looking young man draped across the lap of a strong beautiful woman, Lauri remembers, "This painting is amongst my most personal works. It truly is a page out of my own life." Lauri's paintings mirror the artist herself conveying a sense of serenity, romance, and vitality. She sees her art as forever changing "Your artwork changes as you change. It's beautiful to see that progression from one painting to another. My paintings are a direct reflection of my life. You can see the different phases of my life through my paintings." A positive energy exudes from both Lauri and her original works of art. She sees her work in progress as segments, not as a whole an arm, a leg, a face. Perhaps this is why the detail is so fine and flawless; because each intricate part is an entity unto itself creating a remarkable lifelike finished product. Lauri is her own most critical viewer, always looking for what could be changed or improved. When asked if she has a favorite painting, Lauri laughs and comments, "My paintings are like my children. I don't have a favorite. I love them all. Each is unique." Remarkably, so is the artist herself.
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