Art is a universal language, transcending boundaries and connecting us to the depths of human emotions. It is a mirror reflecting our innermost thoughts and feelings, and for artist Lynn Letourneau, this connection with the human experience is at the heart of her work. Born in Brooklyn and raised on Long Island, New York, Letourneau’s artistic journey is a captivating tale of self-discovery, healing, and the transformative power of abstract expressionism.
Fortitude, 40 x 30 x 1.5″ acrylic, pastel on canvas
Growing up in New York, Letourneau was surrounded by a vibrant cultural scene. The city’s galleries and museums served as her playground and her classroom, offering her the chance to observe and learn from the masters. At the Arts Students League in New York City, she honed her skills by sketching models who had once posed for artists like Matisse. The city itself became a cultural mecca, shaping her artistic sensibilities and fueling her passion for creativity.
Her journey continued at the Boston Museum School of Fine Art, where she delved deeper into the world of painting. Here, she began to explore the intricate relationship between color, energy, and emotion, setting the stage for her future work as both an artist and a healer.
Letourneau’s path took a unique turn when she moved to San Francisco and embarked on a journey into healing modalities. As a healer, she developed an intuitive understanding of color and energy, learning to interpret their profound significance. Simultaneously, she discovered the art of sculpting at the Fort Mason Center in San Francisco, further expanding her creative horizons.
This fusion of healing and art led Letourneau to develop her own unique artistic style, where she translated her healing work into an art form. Her art became a bridge between the worlds of color, energy, and the human psyche.
At Antioch West in California, Letourneau earned a degree in Transpersonal Psychology, delving even deeper into the human psyche and the interplay of emotions, thoughts, and the creative process. Her studies in psychology provided her with valuable insights that she would later infuse into her art.
After moving to Santa Barbara and starting a new chapter in her life, Letourneau felt a deep desire to paint. Her creative journey eventually led her to embrace abstract expressionism, a style that allowed her to paint the internal world of color onto canvas. This marked a significant turning point in her career, as she began to tap into the depths of her intuition and emotions to create powerful works of art.
For Letourneau, painting abstractly is a deeply intuitive process. She relies on her heart, body, and instincts to guide her, allowing her paintings to evolve organically. Her works often feature personal and archetypal images that connect her inner and outer worlds. As she applies rhythmic layers of color onto the canvas, she employs a variety of tools, including palette knives, rubber tips, brushes, pastels, crayons, acrylics, and oil paints.
The result of Letourneau’s artistic process is a harmonious, playful, and contextual interplay of colors that demonstrates the infinite universe of paint and canvas. Her art captures the essence of emotion and experience, inviting viewers to connect with the profound feelings she infuses into each piece.
The true magic of Letourneau’s art lies in the connection it fosters with viewers. When individuals engage with her work, they often find themselves saying, “I know what this feels like.” This powerful connection is a testament to the universal language of art, which transcends words and resonates deeply with the human soul.
In her quest to inspire others to embrace their creativity, Letourneau has designed an art curriculum called “Create Inside Out.” In today’s world, marked by global challenges that urge us to connect and live more consciously, Letourneau believes that creating art is empowering. Artists, in her view, serve as interpreters of the human experience, mirroring the collective consciousness and contributing to the architecture of a new, inclusive future.
One of Letourneau’s works is “Fortitude,” a canvas that encapsulates resilience, courage, and strength. While painting this piece, she found herself using dynamic colors and shapes that exuded a warrior-like energy. As layers of acrylic paint were added, a figure emerged from the canvas, radiating strength in a way that mirrored Letourneau’s own journey of self-discovery.
The painting was a revelation, a process of uncovering new layers of herself, symbolizing the strength that resides within all of us. Letourneau used black pastels to create dynamic shapes that further enhanced the figure’s presence, making it an embodiment of fortitude.
Letourneau’s artistic journey has been punctuated by numerous achievements. For two decades, she has exhibited her work online and at major art fairs, including the New York Art Expo and the LA Art Fair. Her art has graced the walls of museums, galleries in Italy, New York City, Laguna Beach, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Ventura, and has been featured in publications both in the USA and abroad.
Her artistic prowess and unique perspective have earned her a place as a juried member of the Women Painters West in Los Angeles, further solidifying her standing in the art world. She has also been invited to participate in the fundraiser “5×5” for the Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art in Montecito, CA, showcasing her commitment to supporting art and culture.
Recently, Letourneau received the Collectors Art Prize in 2023 from Contemporary Art Collectors Magazine, a recognition of her exceptional contributions to the world of contemporary art.
Lynn Letourneau’s artistic journey is one of profound self-discovery, healing, and the transformative power of abstract expressionism. Her ability to connect with viewers on a deep emotional level is a testament to the universality of art. Through her work, she inspires others to embrace their creativity and connect with the collective human experience.
As we navigate the challenges of our time, artists like Lynn Letourneau continue to serve as interpreters of the human condition, reflecting the beauty, complexity, and resilience of our shared existence. In her art, we find not only a mirror of our own emotions but also a source of inspiration, reminding us of the infinite possibilities that lie within us all.
