Valeri Larko

by Sarah Judson August 21, 2011

New York artist Valeri Larko's large (up to 40"x54") detailed paintings don't look like they were done plein air, but that's how she is able to capture the subtle colors and values of the deteriorating industrial sites, urban waterways, infrastructure and salvage yards that inspire her. Before beginning a large painting, which can take 2-3 months, she does an oil sketch to work out compositional decisions, using gessoed 300 lb. watercolor paper stapled to a board. "The areas that I paint are in flux, there’s an ever-changing nature to our urban/industrial centers that I find compelling. I become a witness to this landscape, capturing contemporary ruins, before they are lost and new structures built over them. I’m reminded of the earlier explorers who would go off to exotic locales to paint and sketch the ruins of past civilizations, except in my case I am interested in the ruins and structures that are part of the every day world around me." We were reminded about her last week by a student who will be studying with her in Italy next month, and she will also be featured in American Artist Magazine in the upcoming September issue.