Meet Larry Maynard

We were lucky to catch up with Larry Maynard recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Larry, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

As a contemporary landscape artist, My work is a conscious play of mood, light and color with a simplistic style of tonalism. The peaceful and meditative images allow the viewer to jump in and get lost. Most of my subject matter is typically derived from my own imagination or previous locations from memories past.
As a naturalist raised and rooted in the diverse landscapes of NW Pennsylvania, I initially began a professional photographic career which included portraiture and landscapes. my love of creating photographic landscapes allowed for my natural and aesthetic transition to picking up a paint brush and begin painting these beautiful and serene landscapes.
I am a consistent award winner and regularly exhibit in juried shows throughout the United States. I now call St. Petersburg, Florida my home.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I have been in the creative arts for most of my 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 my photographic portraiture and natural landscapes, I began painting my subjects instead of photographing them. After many years of learning how to paint and finding his voice, I discovered the style of Tonalism and has been in love with it ever since.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Unless you are blessed and arrive with a silver spoon in your pocket, making a living as an artist has always been a struggle. If you are a good artist and produce original and interesting art, it is somewhat east to sell the piece. The hard and most challenging part is, “Who are you going to sell it to”. Being the best artist in the world doesn’t mean your art will sell unless someone sees it and is exposed to it.
Exposure and putting your artwork in front of collectors and the buying public on a regular and consistent basis is very difficult. But today, with social media and the World Wide Web, it is a lot easier than it was 20 years ago when the only form of exposure was art shows and exhibitions.
Today, an artist must choose between self-promotion, galleries, influencers, or other forms of marketing. Today, artists must figure out a way to sell a $1000 piece without spending $2000 to get it sold. The biggest challenge any artist can have is figuring out how to get an artwork in front of the buying public without spending more than the value of the piece.

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?

His study of the work of the old Tonalistic Masters helped him improve his technique over the years, resulting in emotionally charged pieces that captivate viewers with their unique moodiness evoked through every brushstroke. His artistic influences include George Inness and James McNeil Whistler, whose work has played a significant part in shaping Maynard’s style.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://larrymaynardartist.com
• Instagram: #larrymaynardartist

Image Credits

All paintings by Artist Larry Maynard