Meet Laura Gannarelli

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

Laura, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

The purpose found me. I met my friend’s rescue dog Maizy, and something came over me and I asked her “Can I paint her?” Crazy part…I hadn’t painted since college over 30 years ago. Once I started, I couldn’t stop! The dining room walls were covered with paintings. Another crazy part? I NEVER painted in that style before, every. It was like something came over me. I just didn’t think, and let my hands do what it wanted. I’m a very structured person, so to let go, letting things flow, and seeing what “happens next” was a huge surprise to me. The Japanese sumi-style was inside me all these years, just waiting for the right moment to come out.

And wouldn’t you know it, when I learned how most of my friends had rescues and their adoption process wasn’t that different from human adoption (I’m a Korean adoptee) it all aligned. Being an older adoptee, I was adopted at age 9, I knew my journey to the U.S. and what it felt like to have a forever home. The pet’s story was my story. It’s that journey, the memories and finding a forever home that I am painting. Celebrating the journey and that’s why people are so drawn to my paintings.

It’s not your typical pet portrait.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

My day job is a graphic designer/art director. I’ve been doing this for over 30+ years. I’m currently evolving and building my art business so that I can transition to that full-time by the time I’m 60. I’m currently 56 years old. I wanted to blend my expertise of building brands and campaigns from fortune 500 to govenment campaigns for myself. To use my own expertise to build my art brand “Youngi-Sumistylepets.”

I wanted my next self to build upon those years of graphic design know-how. I refuse to believe that all that I’ve learned in my 56+ years in work and as a human should be tossed out. That I’m “too-old”. Life lessons builds our skills and we are able to see things our younger selves can’t, because you need to have “lived” to know.

My art sprang out of nowhere, I followed the “joy spark” that was ignited by my friend’s dog Maizy and I just went for it. I had no idea where it would lead. I was simply “open” to the process. I didn’t even know the style I was painting. I just came out. Once I started sharing people were telling me what style I was painting.All I knew was I followed my life-long love of black and white art.

In the past 7 years, my art business I have learned things I wouldn’t have if I wasn’t building this business. Learning to talk to complete strangers on 90+ degree days, setting up your products, figuring out what to say to connect with people. I pretty much disliked social media, but learned to use Instagram and now am writing, taking photos, making reels, all to tell the story of why I paint.

I came to this country with only the clothes on my back and memories. I’ve come to realize whether I’m painting nature, people or pets, it’s to connect to the precious memories that we all carry, to have a place we can stop and see every day to bring us joy.

My unique sumi-style, stripped of color, painted in just black and white takes away all the noise and helps us to connect to our loved ones and ourselves.

I’ve recently started a new series called “Shadow Soul Portraits” a modern interpretation of the silhouette portraits of the 18th century that is embedded with our stories of who we are, a time capsule. A place to go to connect with ourselves or loved ones on a daily basis. Time flies by, and we need quiet places to help us to stop, breathe, and engage with life. This series is where my blend of art and graphic design are combing to create something new.

I want to tell all the 50+ year-olds out there. “We are NOT done! We are just getting started” and to build out next selves to be better. All the life lessons helps to propel us. I refuse to let society tell us “You are too old because you don’t know the latest app. etc.” Life isn’t about technology, it’s about connecting, and I feel we are getting further and further away from our humanity for ease and convenience. Or that’s what the technies are trying to push down our throats.

I’m on a mission to creating a “creative life” where I can explore all the “joy sparks” for me to create that I haven’t done yet. I believe in thousand year old traditions of materials and techniques. I believe in human made vs computer AI creating art. We need to fight for these art forms to stay alive and flourish.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

DETERMINATION. I came to this country not knowing any English. I leaned to read, write, and speak (with the hard work of my adoptee mom who worked tirelessly) in 3 months to start school.

GRIT: Society talks about it all the time now, my generation didn’t have school exercises to teach this, we learned it by showing up every day and doing the work. I went to school early in grade school to learn to read better and not be left behind. You learned through failing, but picking yourself back up and still keep going.

JOY: To me, this word gets watered down. Joy isn’t about being “happy” it’s about doing something that makes you forget everything else, that helps you to connect to a part of yourself that makes you smile. I look for “joy sparks” every day. And that’s a question I ask anyone I meet for the first time “What are you working on that brings you joy?”

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

I’m looking to connect with interior decorators who decorate for high end clientele whether they are homes, restaurants, hotels. I believe artwork should be a part of the experience, and not just something that hangs on the wall that complements the sofa color. People who believe great art can uplift and give that unknown quality to enhance the vibe of the physical space. We as humans can feel this without it being pointed out. I want to work with someone who understands art can and should be an extension of their brand for hotels and restaurants.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Photos: Ashley Kaneko, Cameron Krasucki, Laura Gannarelli, Mackenzie Maeder

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