Daily Inspiration: Meet Lara Restelli

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lara Restelli.

Hi Lara, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My artistic identity blossomed upon relocating to Miami from Buenos Aires and embracing motherhood. In this transformative shift, as I left behind the familiar to forge a new path, I sought an anchor for my soul in this new chapter. Unexpectedly, art found me, becoming an integral part of my existence. Juggling the responsibilities of raising children, I seized every available moment to immerse myself in artistic pursuits. I eagerly explored diverse art classes and voraciously consumed online tutorials. Today, after 15 enriching years, my creative journey occupies the core of my being, defining who I am.  I tried every medium, style, and subject matter during this exploration period.
As I matured, a pattern began to emerge. My aesthetics and personal preferences started shaping a distinct style. Once I realized that my painting style mirrored my personality traits, I stopped resisting and embraced it. I cherished and admired hyperrealism, and that became my aspiration. From then on, I dedicated myself to acquiring advanced technical skills in classical figurative education.
Now, I create larger-than-life, realistic paintings of rocks, gems, and crystals filled with vibrant colors. I chose oil paint as my medium because it ideally enables my detail-oriented approach. I aim to convey serenity, peace, and joy through my work.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road to becoming an artist is never straight or smooth. However, no matter how unpredictable it might be, it always brings joy into my life. My biggest challenge was trying to understand the art world. I only new that I wanted paint, and that my paintings needed a purpose to live outside my studio. However, nobody told me how arduous and long that journey would be. Trying to find the purpose of your art is like trying to understand your life’s purpose. Not an easy task at all! It’s a journey of intense soul-searching, and that’s only the beginning. Assuming I got that figured out, I needed to let the world know about me, my art, and its purpose. Another mammoth task! I don’t think I’ve mastered any of those challenges yet, but I am certainly working on it and enjoying the process. I did realize that painting nourishes my soul, and being able to share it enhances my passion, so I will keep riding this unpredictable road as long as it allows me to keep painting and sharing it.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I mentioned that I paint rocks, and now you want to know why. OK Several years ago, during my exploration era, I decided to paint my collection of rocks. It was simple and unpretentious but full of potential. As soon as I finished the first painting, I felt a voracious need to paint more. That’s how I discovered precious stones and crystals. Since then, I’ve been fascinated by them, learning and admiring their powers and properties so much that I turned them into my primary subject matter. I now have a personal collection of hundreds of different specimens classified by color and mineral composition that I use, not only in my compositions but also in my personal life.

Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
I want to encourage and inspire anybody who is thinking about embarking on an artistic career but is uncertain, doubtful, and full of questions. Just go for it! Art is food for the soul. No matter how frustrating it may be at times, it will always bring you joy and satisfaction. Jump into the unknown and enjoy the ride!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.lararestelli.com
• Instagram: @lararestelliart
• Facebook: @lararestelliart