spent the next
several years honing her skills privately while gracing
the covers of magazines, catwalks and advertising campaigns.
As is commensurate with most artistic souls, Blank wanted
to move away and try something new; also in the field
of art and design. Turning her creative sights on the
fashion world, Lauri moved to Bogota, Columbia. After
establishing her own couture dress design and manufacturing
business, it seemed that the canvas beckoned for her
return as each day abroad passed.
Lauri
returned to the US and embarked on full time painting
career, "I felt the need to create something new,
each day, whether it was a painting, interior design,
or classical music. You couldn’t do that in fashion
- once successful, the business becomes more about production
and less about creativity.”
As
her talent grew, Blank found herself naturally drawn
to the imagery and complexities of the human form. She
especially focused on the female form, learning to capture
its very essence on her canvas. Uninhibited by conventional
or formal training, her talent took on an original life
of its own. Blank's artwork exhibits an unblemished
romantic realism long forgotten by commercially driven,
modern day trends. The appeal of her work is timeless.
She continues to evolve her passion, taking great care
in developing each individual composition. What is most
remarkable is that she does not use live models. The
images create themselves.
Her
talents were immediately recognized by patrons in Washington
D.C. and the Miami area, where she accepted numerous
important commissions. And then in 1999, Lauri’s
career would take a different turn, one that resembled
one of the masters she studied for most of her life.
Lauri Blank was commissioned to paint the ceiling of
an 18th century church in Old Montreal. For months,
the artist worked day and night painting the Cathedral’s
ceiling while standing on scaffolding that had a five-story
drop onto the marble floor below. It was the most magical
experience she has ever had and is most proud of this
work.
Blank received national coverage within Architectural
Digest and her Old Montreal Cathedral work was featured
on HGTV. She has been called "The Ft. Lauderdale
areas own Michelangelo".
Blank's
work has been exhibited in galleries throughout the
nation. She receives frequent media attention and has
appeared on numerous magazine covers throughout the
Miami area. In 2002, Blank was selected as the artist
for the 2002 Grammy Awards. Her "Post 911"
Grammy work symbolized the patriotism of a nation blended
with our love of music.
Lauri’s
style of melding the techniques and icons of the old
master with today’s cultural ideology, has won
her acclaim. Her powerful images, along with her passion
and devotion jump off the canvas and transport the viewer
into a by-gone era. Her own imitable style, which the
artist refers to as “Romantic Figuratism,”
brings a sense of peace and reflection to the modern
day world. “The passion in my heart…influences
and fuels my love of art and my profession” says
Blank of her accomplishments.
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