{"id":251807,"date":"2017-06-30T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-06-30T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sdnews.com\/in-love-with-art\/"},"modified":"2017-06-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2017-06-30T07:00:00","slug":"in-love-with-art","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.sdnews.com\/es\/in-love-with-art\/","title":{"rendered":"In Love With Art"},"content":{"rendered":"

Por Luc\u00eda Viti<\/p>\n

South Park artist draws on \u2018dreams and life experiences\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

Stephanie Clair is an artist on a mission to \u201ctouch your soul with my brush.\u201d Collections of delightfully bright and boldly picturesque acrylics, taken from \u201cdreams and life experiences,\u201d reflect her desire to incite contagiously happy energy.<\/p>\n

Perusing through her collector series \u2014 Romance, Individuals, Places, Mosaics and Concrete \u2014 is like strolling through a patchwork of fanciful shapes and vibrant colors that promise to bring \u201ca soulful human quality to fruition.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"In
Stephanie Clair surrounded by her family at a recent arts festival. (Photos courtesy of the artist)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cI believe in surrounding yourself with snapshots of loving memories that are sometimes erased by the speed of time,\u201d the South Park resident said. \u201cI challenge viewers to get lost in a three-dimensional world of people, passion and beauty. My paintings tell stories through a matrimony of emotion, cubes and color, sharing memories that we all relate to, but we so often easily forget.\u201d<\/p>\n

The self-described modern-day romantic and day dreamer \u201cengulfed in my own world,\u201d encourages everyone to view our global landscape through a \u201cnew set of lenses.\u201d For her, life\u2019s dreamy moments, best captured on canvas, serve as an impetus to escape the daily stress of \u201crunning a million miles an hour.\u201d Prose accompanies every piece as gentle reminders to relish sweet moments in perfect harmony.<\/p>\n

\"In
“Butterflies” by Stephanie Clair (Courtesy of the artist)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cArt inspires,\u201d she continued. \u201cArt is stored honey for the human soul. I wish everyone could take a step back and enjoy a moment of romance. For me, love is the most powerful\u00a0feeling in the world and yet we\u2019re often too busy to even share a glass of wine as a romantic moment. Those are the moments my paintings capture.\u201d<\/p>\n

Salsa and fine art<\/strong><\/p>\n

Clair recently added prize winnings to the concept of sharing a cocktail, only this time with a Mexican flair. Courtesy of La Victoria, America\u2019s first jarred Mexican salsa sold publicly, she garnered second-place in a contest that celebrated their 100-year anniversary.<\/p>\n

Born and bred in Los Angeles, the company contested San Diego artists to create original artwork showcasing a \u201cModern West Coast Lifestyle\u201d theme while giving the La Victoria brand a nod. Clair was chosen among a smorgasbord of local talent to reign in the top five and ultimately win $1,500 for second-place. Her painting \u201cBeautiful Day\u201d portrayed a couple sharing La Victoria Salsa, chips and margaritas on a grassy knoll with the San Diego Bay as the backdrop.<\/p>\n

\"In
“Sunset Over Cinque Terre” by Stephanie Clair (Courtesy of the artist)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cStephanie\u2019s artwork is not only beautiful, it embodies the La Victoria brand,\u201d said Sebastian Friedman, La Victoria\u2019s brand manager. \u201cHow perfect \u2013 a couple sipping margaritas and eating chips dipped in La Victoria Salsa \u2013 to highlight the most unique aspects of West Coast living. Life on the West Coast is a culture that blends art, food, music that can\u2019t be found elsewhere. La Victoria appreciates what artists add to that culture and we\u2019re always looking for opportunities to give back. The Modern West Coast Lifestyle contest was a perfect example of how we do so.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Friedman, La Victoria has witnessed much over the past century in the region\u2019s everchanging landscape of art and life. \u201cWest Coast living is truly unique,\u201d he continued. La Victoria wanted to highlight the differences between the south and its northern counterparts. Our call for action asked artists to convey and define, \u2018What does modern West Coast living mean to you in an art form?\u2019 For us, modern West Coast living includes unique artists and we\u2019re excited to share their talent.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was so thrilled to be a finalist,\u201d Clair said. \u201cThe idea \u2013 and the painting \u2013 were perfect matches. My paintings include a lot of ethnically universal people. That is, my portraits make everyone feel inclusive while showcasing love, passion and romance. The La Victoria piece shows a couple caught in a sweet moment, sipping on margaritas and eating yummy chips with La Victoria Salsa, toasting their glasses as the sun sets on the San Diego Bay. Everyone agrees, it truly is a beautiful day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Finding her calling<\/strong><\/p>\n

Born and raised in upstate New York, Clair \u201cdrew her way through cold winter days.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEver since I can remember, I\u2019ve doodled and doodled and doodled,\u201d she said. \u201cI\u2019d roam the backyard forests and come home to draw them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Later influenced by the works of Picasso, Matisse, Chagall, Modigliani and Kandinsky, she received her bachelor of fine arts from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. Life as an artist became a realistic venture after selling her art during her senior year art show.<\/p>\n

\"In
“Escape” by Stephanie Clair (Courtesy of the artist)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cAfter selling every single piece, I was convinced that no matter how hard it would be, no matter what I\u2019d have to do to get there, I\u2019d figure out a way to paint for a living,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s hard to survive as a painter, let alone to live successfully as an artist. It takes a long time to build a support network and discover your niche, your style.\u201d<\/p>\n

San Francisco followed suit where she built a portfolio and generated a collector base while working in the corporate world in design and marketing. With \u201cjust enough savings,\u201d Clair moved to San Diego and plunged into full-time artistry. Savings dwindled \u201cpretty quickly\u201d so she loaded every art piece into her car and drove to La Jolla determined to leave \u201cempty-handed\u201d even if it meant walking into every single art gallery. Not only was she accepted in the area\u2019s oldest gallery, Eagle Fine Art, she was asked to become the gallery\u2019s sales director. Clair accepted and quickly \u201clearned the ropes, turned the gallery around and established my name to eventually branch out on my own.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"In
“Coming Home,” by Stephanie Clair (Courtesy of the artist)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Today, Clair devotes herself to her family \u2014 husband Eric, daughter Ayla and son Milo \u2014 as well as her art. Featured in San Diego, Northern California, Hawaii and East Coast galleries and art shows, her life remains a beacon of inspiring others to enjoy life and art.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love working art shows and meeting my collectors,\u201d she concluded. \u201cMeeting the people who purchase my babies completes the circle. Art is personal. Art inspires. Art is reflection of your soul, of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2014P\u00f3ngase en contacto con Luc\u00eda Viti en luciaviti@roadrunner.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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