Ohio Artist Finds "Fountain of Youth" - Painter Captures Immortal Images

Ohio painter Lisa Gloria creates meaningful and touching images of childhood that last for centuries.

(PRWEB) January 18, 2005 -- They grow up so fast, the saying goes: one day playing ball, the next day moving off to college. Knowing this too well, local artist Lisa Gloria has committed a large part of her artwork to creating meaningful images of childhood that will last, literally, for generations.

An award-winning artist whose paintings and drawings appear in collections as far away as Ireland and the Netherlands, Lisa Gloria focused early on in realistic figures and portraits. Though her commissions range from family groups to pets, it's the portraits of children which seem to garner special attention.

"You can see the love in her paintings," says Martin Danekind, president of the Eastern Maumee Bay Arts Council. "It's like you can see the children's personality from the paintings. They are fascinating to look at."

"We have five daughters," Lisa says fondly, "so I am very aware of just how fleeting every moment is. I have been so happy to meet other people who are as sentimental about their children as I am."

Mrs. Gloria strives to capture not only the likeness of the child, but to tell a story about who they are through the pose, props and lighting. Though extremely realistic and precise, the art is also warm and personal, inviting the viewer to peer deeper into the painting and "get to know" the person within it.

"There's a painting of a girl at the Toledo Musem of Art," she says, "and she has a bird on a ribbon, and this wonderful smile on her face. And that little girl grew up, and was a young woman, and then an old woman, and then she was gone. But, this tender image of a 3- or 4-year-old girl persists forever. I love that idea."

Lisa Gloria's drawing "Portrait of Lulu" recently won First Place at the Winter GALLErie, held January 8 & 9 at Maumee Bay State Park near Toledo, Ohio. Her painting "Spring (Promise)" won People's Choice. These winning works, along with selected works from other winners of the GALLErie, will be on display through the end of February at Uncle Joe's Coffee House, in Walbridge, Ohio. More images of Lisa Gloria's artwork can be viewed online at www.lisagloria.com.

Contacts:
Martin Danekind, President, Eastern Maumee Bay Arts Council, member of the Ohio Arts Councils and Black Swamp Rural Arts Initiative
www.maumeebay.org
419-690-5718
P.O. Box 7288
Oregon, OH 43616-7288

Uncle Joe's Coffee House
419-666-0786
409 N Main ST
Walbridge, OH 43465
www.unclejoescoffee.com

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