Artist Focus

Artist Focus: Lorraine Sack

Lorraine Sack grew up on a farm on the plains of southern Minnesota. Ever since she can remember she has loved bright colors, coloring and story books with beautiful illustrations. Her mother started her on the creative path by playing drawing games that used shapes to spark her imagination.

Lemon Yellow, oil on linen, 12 x 12”

As a young adult, Sack trained as a painter at Atelier Lack art school in Minneapolis. “With its direct lineage to the 19th-century French academies and the Boston School of Art, it was a perfect foundation for me to explore my love of color while developing my innate drawing skills,” says Sack. “Through the years, I continue to focus on the magic of painting still life. The theater-like presentation of still life allows me to create a new story with every piece where light, color and objects play a role.

Sky Blue, oil on linen, 12 x 12”

“I like the tradition of working on linen canvas, the texture of it and the way it accepts the layers of oil paint,” Sack continues. “For me, there is nothing like working in oils to develop depth and capture surfaces such as glass, porcelain or wood. I work with natural light because of the allure it creates when captured on canvas to invite a viewer into the painted world. I gather inspiration from nature, theater, music, almost anything, but I seek out the rich theme of birds and the fluid designs of Art Nouveau to build my work upon. My home and studio are in Tucson, Arizona, where the pure blue skies nurture the creative process daily.” —