Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Larry Maynard. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Larry, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

I have been in the creative arts for most of his life. While serving in the US Navy, I advanced my photographic skills while visiting and traveling throughout Europe. Soon after I returned back home to the foothills of Pennsylvania, I attended the Chautauqua Art Institute and studied under the renowned artist George Gambsky. After which, I developed a successful and thriving photographic art business.
I became so fond of photographic portraiture and natural landscapes, I began painting the subjects instead of photographing them. After many years of learning how to paint and finding my voice, I discovered the style of Tonalism and have been in love with it ever since.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

As a tonalist landscape artist, My work is a conscious play of light, mood, and color. I showcase the sentiment of sublime nature and the emotive impact it has on our emotions. My use of natural light and mastery of color (or lack there of) create an aura of emotion that captivates my audience and carries with them a sense of tranquility. My work portrays the intimate beauty of the environment, giving life to a new perspective. While each painting may be simplistic in its color palate, it is full of emotion and moody vibes. I maintain soft atmospheric edges while focusing on the tone and more importantly the emotion that lies within my artwork. Through my art, I hope to engage the audience and trigger their own emotional journey.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Society must understand the complexities of artistic creation. You may not like the subject matter, or the point of view the artist is trying to establish, but an understanding of the process that was utilized in how this piece was created.
The preliminary hours spent creating the mental image before a brush is picked up or before a pencil touches the canvas. The quantity of dollars spent to acquire the materials before a mark is made on the canvas. The hour after hour, the day after day, or the month after month it takes to finalize a painting.
Whether society likes or dislikes a particular painting or piece of art, they must realize the complexities involved in getting to this point. There isn’t anything more encouraging and motivating to an artist when a patron says “Thank You” or “I appreciate your work”.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Prior to the pandemic, I exhibited up and down the East Coast of the United States exhibiting and showing my artwork. The pandemic had an inverse effect on sales. I was forced to travel down a different road and I had to go into a brick and mortar building. I had to rely on Social Media and previous collectors for financial support.
This was a new method and a difficult learning curve that I had to establish in order to remain successful.
Modern technology is ever changing and I now devote several hours every day to stay on top of it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://LarryMaynardArtist.com
• Instagram: #larrymaynardartist
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/larrymaynardartist