Born in Worcester, Massachusetts in 1951, Larry Preston spent much of his teenage years at the Worcester Art Museum viewing the museum’s collection of Flemish still life paintings. At a young age, he began imitating their work and eventually arrived at the technique he uses today to paint his still life compositions and landscapes. Completely self-taught, his work has evolved over many years. 

In his late teens, Larry embarked on what became a successful career as a musician. After 25 years in the music business, he decided to return to his first love, painting. Experimenting with many different styles, including surrealism and abstraction, his desire to paint still life and landscapes eventually became the focus of his work.

He chooses to paint familiar objects he sees around him. Simple, everyday objects that he finds beautiful, that are often overlooked, such as a single flower or a piece of fruit. These common but always individual subjects celebrate the beauty that surrounds us. His landscapes are inspired by the bucolic scenes to be found around his western Massachusetts home.  

Larry Preston’s work has won numerous national awards including several from The Artist’s Magazine, The Art Calendar and many juried art exhibits and competitions.  He has been a featured artist in The American Artist Magazine (2005) and in American Art Collector (2007, 2009, 2011, and 2013). His work is included in national and international collections. He has also been a featured artist for PBS auctions.

Painting in oil on panel, Larry first sketches his work in charcoal and turpentine and then applies many layers of semi-transparent oil glazes. The resulting work has great depth and a luminous quality. His paintings have meticulous realist detail with a quiet, introspective, and intimate feel.

Larry lives and paints in western Massachusetts.

ARTIST'S STATEMENT
I paint what I find beautiful. I do not paint to be relevant, for an audience, or make any statement other than the beauty to be found in the objects I choose to paint. If the viewer chooses to attach some meaning to my work, that would be their prerogative. I find that, in this modern world, there is too little observance of the beauty in our surroundings. The real importance is in our lives. I paint to remind myself what I find important and beautiful and to experience the process of painting my chosen object. I paint for myself and the process. I am ecstatic that my work resonates with people.