Lonnie Lardner – Page 16

Putting Ukrainian Artists On The Map

February 28, 2022 by Lonnie Lardner

(Pic #1) “Bevza Time of Pure Potency” by Petro Bevza, Oil on canvas, 62” x 47”

I randomly selected my Top 5 — but there are untold numbers waiting to be discovered.

My heart is heavy this week, with the Russian-Ukraine conflict fully engaged. And whenever there is political uprising or threats to humanity, artists are the first to find a way to reflect the truth in the story. Artists teach us how to interpret and ultimately how to heal. I have enormous respect for these skills, and I know they will not fail us this time.

I knew nothing of Ukrainian art until today. Once I started exploring in cyberspace, I was blown away. Here are a few pieces that caught my eye, as I celebrate and share the work of 5 artists who exhibit in Kyiv.

(Pic #2) “Klitschko” by Mikhailo Deyak, oil on canvas, 47” x 35”

(Pic #3) “Pines at Sviatashyn #1” by Oleksili Beliusenko, Oil on canvas, 31” x 23”

(Pic #4) “Carter Visiting Rothko” by Natalia Bahatska, mixed media and acrylic on canvas.

(Pic #5) “Tea Cups” by Lena Vylusk , Oil on canvas

Dear Ada, Thank You For The Moment

January 31, 2022 by Lonnie Lardner

(Pic #1) The handiwork of a youngster I assume is named Ada.

A drive-by chalking hits my heart hard.

In my corporate workshops, I’m always preaching the benefits of PLAY. Experts say spontaneity and self-expression are important for nurturing creativity and even compassion. Play also helps mitigate burnout — which I think we can all appreciate right about now.

Yet, it’s an element of our lives that disappears once we hit adolescence — “a time when obsessing over how other people see us and what they might think becomes the norm.”

So how do we reclaim our practice of play? Well, we can start by learning from Ada, the young artist who left her mark on a basketball court last week in Westlake Village, California. (Pic #1) I nearly tripped over her work on my way to an exercise class, and I just had to stop, and savor this little gem.

There it was — right under my feet — a Stegosaurus carefully drawn in bright pinks and sky blue — in a form that oozed fearlessness and playfulness. I pictured Ada watching her older brother play ball, and suddenly reaching for her colored box of chalks. She never questioned whether her chalking would be good or not — she Just drew.

I was so inspired by her Steg, I broke out my favorite pencils and started sketching little monsters of my own. So while I have never even met my mysterious muse, Ada’s art is doing its job….sparking more fresh new work by simply “pressing play.”

Jan 01 — Need A Resolution? Press Play!

December 31, 2021 by Lonnie Lardner

(Pic #1) Young artists at play, Van Ness Recreation Center, South Central Los Angeles.

Solution for our grand delusions

You now have permission to trash impossible declarations like, “I’m losing 50 pounds this year.” There’s actually a better one. Research shows the pressure and unpredictability of the past two years have left us tense, depressed, and anxious. The solution, according to one Harvard psychologist — is PLAY.

Dr. Natalie Dattilo, a clinical psychologist at Harvard Medical School says, “Adults desperately need to have some fun — and for the sake of our mental health — there’s no time like now.” — Doctor’s orders.

Whether you’re shooting hoops, or throwing clay, Dattilo says play has enormous health benefits, like a pumped up sense of well being:

Mood – Play makes us laugh, releasing endorphins that lower stress, anxiety, and depression. Moreover, Dattilo says it has the power to reduce both physical and emotional pain.

Brain health – Play improves memory and nurtures critical thinking.

Inspiration – Play fosters creativity by getting us out of our tired, routine headspace.

For ideas on spontaneous acts of play, I turn to my 6-year-old niece Mickey, who, in this video (below) has stopped showering for a moment to express herself artistically on the glass door. Children do this naturally, unexpectedly, and fearlessly. My resolution this year is to embrace my own 6-year-old self and start kicking some creative ass.