La Retta’s early years studying with several major artists in the K.C. Area as well as a short time at the Kansas City Art Institute until Motherhood took over. Even then she studied portraiture and enjoyed painting family, friends and even the Kansas City Chiefs players. Work experience includes time as a buyer for a High Fashion House in Kansas City. She ran her Interior Design business in South Florida and San Diego for 35 + years designing furniture, fabrics , area rugs for luxury homes , hotels and restaurants.
After retiring in San Diego she went back to her art full time working in watercolor, oils, acrylic, mixed media , sculpture and jewelry design. LaRetta has been a member of the Oceanside Museum of Art, the Escondido Arts Partnership, the COAL Gallery in Carlsbad , the Fallbrook Art Association and the Institute of Contemporary Art in San Diego. Her work is in collections across the country and has been honored with many awards.
StatementI have always considered myself to be an artist from the time I sewed ribbons onto my fuzzy house slippers to make ballet shoes in the third grade, to the present filled with paints, papers, canvas, fabrics, semi precious stones and oh yes clay and wax. I can’t seem to stop the creative impulse and constantly am compelled to explore the shapes, colors, textures, sounds and yes even the smells of nature. My mantra has always been “WHAT IF?” For me creating art runs the gamut of emotion from lets get busy, to I hate it, to it’s finished. I am so blessed and grateful to have filled my life with the richness of the art world and the incredible mentors along the way.
CvStateCA
CountryUnited States
