Meet Lara Prestipino

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

Lara, so glad you were able to set aside some time for us today. We’ve always admired not just your journey and success, but also the seemingly high levels of self-discipline that you seem to have mastered and so maybe we can start by chatting about how you developed it or where it comes from?

We have to do the work for ourselves, we have to make the things happen that we want in our life.
No one is coming to save you. This is something I heard that resonates with me.
People may support and encourage you, but that won’t get you very far without your own focus and self-discipline. This idea spans all areas of life from creating art to something as routine as washing your face before bed. I feel a responsibility for this one life I have to do my best, even on the days when I don’t feel like it. That self-discipline comes from showing up on a consistent basis, I believe it is a learned behavior. When you keep showing up for yourself, it gets easier. Self-discipline becomes part of who you are. In terms of nurturing my creative side there are days that I don’t feel like showing up in my studio, I don’t have the energy or spark to create, but showing up for myself, literally walking into my studio is the hardest part. That act of making myself show up for my art is the challenge, once I’m there, I can get to work pretty easily. You have to make yourself take that first step. Do the thing that is scary or that you don’t want to do and it usually works out.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

Creating, specifically painting, has been something I’d wanted to explore for about 20 years. Making the time and having the space to create were hurdles. I had small boys and I was staying home with them at the time. It didn’t feel like the right time to explore that desire, so I waited. Fast forward to 2018, we bought a house on the north side of Chicago and it had this amazing workroom in the basement. I didn’t immediately start painting, but I did love that we had space for me to work. When the world shutdown in 2020, my moment came! I ordered a few canvases, I looked at online classes that were being offered. I started poking around and see what was out there for a person with a little experience, and a willingness to learn. Lillstreet Art Center is an amazing place in Chicago for those who want to tap into their creative side. I took a painting class and it was so great to be in a class, to push yourself to explore and be open to feedback and new ideas. After that first painting class I was eager to continue learning. I found an online class with people from the US and UK that met weekly for 12 weeks. It was large commitment for me, both financially and with my time. An important part of the class was keeping a journal. Weekly assignments required research and exploration. Paying attention to what inspired me, what I was drawn to, and in turn how to create work that was meaningful to me. I learned a lot in the class and I anticipate this will be a lifelong journey – exploring what inspires me. We are constantly changing and evolving and new things resonate with us as we move through life and that inevitably comes through in my work.

About a year or so after I reconnected with my paintings I was catching up with a friend over text. She happens to be the set designer for a TV show in Chicago, but that was not a thought in my mind when we were updating each other on what’d we’d been up to since the pandemic. I shared that I’d started painting again and she asked me to show her my work. We all have that moment when someone asks to see something we are doing where we can either hedge and steer the conversation away from that vulnerable moment or just go for it. I shared a few images and she asked if I would be willing to sell one! I was taken aback and elated at the same time. I took a few moments to kind of freak out and of course I said I would sell one. I didn’t really know what I would charge (of course too little as we all do when finding our footing), but we agreed on a price and it was my first sale.

That gave me a boost in my confidence. A little while later a friend who is a artist with a cool space asked me to do a joint show. That was a way for friends and family to see what I had been doing. It was a way to focus and create with intention. From there I did my first art festival. That’s a whole scene, but everyone in the art world that I’ve come across is supportive and encouraging. They are willing to share what works for them and it helps take a little guess work out of an overwhelming new chapter.

This past summer I did three art festivals, they are a great way to get yourself out there, meet people, and push yourself to create new work. I like a deadline to keep my on track and the challenge of creating something new for each festival. For the second festival of the summer, I debuted by “Could Be Worst” series of dropped ice cream cones. I was commuting to the Metra on my bicycle and I passed a dropped ice cream cone of the sidewalk. My initial response was one of sadness for the person that dropped it and as I continued on my ride I started to think of all the things that could be worse than a dropped ice cream cone and a series was born. I like the juxtaposition of the bright colors and the disappointment of a dropped cone.

Doing art festivals the goal is to sell your art. This shapes the pieces I chose to create for this specific opportunity. I explored landscapes, flowers, and fruit as subjects. These things are relatable and bring a sense of comfort or nostalgia for some. I want people to connect to my art and enjoy looking at it. I use bright colors, rich textures, and am working to create a personal style.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Courage, Vulnerability, and Resourcefulness are three words I’d use to describe my artistic journey so far. Starting something new at any age is a humbling experience. Making art is very subjective and I keep hearing about finding ‘my people’. I think that too, is a life long journey. It is a vulnerable experience to create something and see how it is received.
I think of myself as very resourceful, if I don’t know the answer, I’m going to figure it out.

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

I need to figure out the direction I want to take my art. The art festivals are a great way to reach new people and share my work. They require time, effort, and energy. Many artists do the festivals full time it seems, and I have to decide if I’m ready to commit to that path. I am trying to figure out if I’m trying to pursue art in more of a capacity or enjoy the process of creating without the business side of things.

I need to really map out my time, check in with my husband, as my decisions ultimately effect his time and plans as well! I want to explore how other artists balance their time and energy for ideas and see what feels right for me in the season of my life. I think some day it would be amazing to travel across the US doing art festivals and seeing the country.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://paintingsbylara.com
• Instagram: lara_paints2025