We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lara Lenhoff a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Lara thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

Generally speaking I believe that I can say that I have learned how to be very happy with what I do creatively and with who I am, and it flows into every facet of my life. When I’m inspired to create I am completely immersed in what I am doing and am profoundly happy when I’m standing before my easel. It took many years to find out and how to balance things and make time for what matters to me. I have worked in another field for over 20 years and I’m confident in what I do in that position because it comes naturally to me. As does creating. I am happy as an artist. I can’t see myself sitting at a desk unless I’m working on my blog or website. I wasn’t meant to sell insurance or real estate. I was meant to create and work with people in a social sense.

Lara , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’ve been creative all my life. One could say I came out of the womb with a paintbrush. I was very fortunate to have an incredible art teacher when I was in elementary school. He taught me how to utilize creative expression as a coping mechanism and it’s been an ever present force in my life. I was invited to exhibit in a small Independent gallery called the Misfit Gallery in Dallas in 2014. I had become acquainted with some regular customers at a cafe I was working at and they were incredibly generous and kind to me and helped with purchasing art supplies as well as my work. I still have the same easel and have painted MANY pieces on it. It’s a true gift to have genuine people come into your life and support you. An absolute blessing really.

I’ve always been a lone wolf in the art scene- but I did my own thing and started my own company and made a point to encourage other artists and photographers I was getting to know in my community and began curating shows and events, many of them being fundraisers for non-profits. They were a tremendous amount of work to put together but the group I had around me was phenomenal and we had beautiful moments and so much fun. Those were some of the best years for Me professionally. I was fortunate to have people believe in what I was doing, and those who didn’t – I didn’t let it bother me. When I was asked to participate in Art Basel in 2019, for me that was a triumphant moment and I saved for a year to make it happen.

I create original paintings and my work is emotionally driven and inspired by the music I’m listening to when I’m
Creating. The energy I feel inspires tug color palette I use.
I don’t engage much with the art world as much as I used to. Like I said, I’m a lone wolf. I’m more comfortable that way and with smaller groups and I like having my space to create. I also love to write. I sell my work privately and at a gallery in Texas. Most of my work is available to see on my website.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me it’s being aware of my emotions and being able to identify what I’m feeling. I am fortunate to have collectors who feel that sense of what I’m putting out into the world – I put my entire heart into my work, and it’s pure and raw emotion and what’s inside my head. I’m a very observant person. I’ve come a long way in terms of personal growth and I feel it reflects in the work I’ve created in the past few years. When I’m in the zone I am iIN IT and I don’t want my rhythm interrupted. I’ve got my music playing and I’m happy. It might sound pretentious but once I’m in a flow- and I think many artists would agree- when that flow is disrupted it changes everything.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Leaving Dallas was something I needed to Do for my mental health. I felt misunderstood by people and just really weighed down. I was lost and needed to find my voice again. In coordinating so many shows back to back I was truly exhausted and my own work was suffering. So I started over. I was married and we moved to Florida and then we moved to Nashville. During the pandemic we discovered we weren’t a good fit. It happened to many people. Going separate ways was what forced me to take a good hard look at myself. In the past three years I have gotten stronger, more confident, and it shows in my work. It’s more vibrant and optimistic. Life teaches us many lessons. I’m a big fan of self care and awareness and healing. It’s absolutely necessary to grow in order to change.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.LaraLenhoffgallery.com
• Instagram: @artsymonkeyllc
• Other: www.truth-passport.com (my blog) I’m an avid reader and love to write.