Lara Saunders

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Lara Saunders

Aged 19

Grand Central Atelier

Instructor(s): Edward Minoff, Colleen Barry, Rachel Li, Rodrigo Mateo, Sandra Sanchez

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  • Artworks

Corvette

Oil on Linen

12 x 9 ins (30.48 x 22.86 cms)

Santiago

Oil on Linen

24 x 20 ins (60.96 x 50.8 x 2.54 cms)

Jacinta

Charcoal on Paper

24 x 20 ins (60.96 x 50.8 cms)

Double Peonies

Graphite, Charcoal on Paper

14 x 11 ins (35.56 x 27.94 cms)

Écorché

Oil on Wood

14 x 11 ins (35.56 x 27.94 cms)

Self Portrait, 18

Brown pencil on paper

18 x 14 ins (45.72 x 35.56 cms)

Freddy

Graphite on paper

24 x 18 ins (60.96 x 45.72 cms)

Santiago Structure

Graphite on paper

24 x 18 ins (60.96 x 45.72 cms)

Freddy

Oil on Linen

26 x 20 ins (66.04 x 50.8 x 2.54 cms)

Corvette Drawing

Graphite on paper

12 x 9 ins (30.48 x 22.86 cms)

Anna Nina

Graphite on paper

24 x 18 ins (60.96 x 45.72 cms)

My intention for the next year is to finish my fourth and final year at GCA, which will be a continuation of intense full-time painting and drawing under incredible artists and instructors. That being said however, I have had to think about this a great deal due to financial and personal conditions that are making it more challenging than foreseen. It has come to the point that I seriously considered having to move back with family in Germany this upcoming summer. This would alleviate some of these financial instabilities, but would be detrimental for my education and career path. I took up online teaching with a few private students in an effort to pay for my tuition for GCA next year and expenses required to to stay in NYC. Receiving this scholarship would mean that I can remain in NYC to cover the tuition. Continuing my studies at GCA is crucial for me and it is highly important that I finish this final year. If I had to relocate to Germany, I would still try to work as much on my own as possible, but without the strict regiment of the school and the guidance of artists that I highly respect, I can see how much it can halt my growth. Especially in my student years, being in an environment that strictly works from life has been a blessing, which could prove challenging without access to the studio. For now, I find it very important to build up a online presence, being that it has so far gotten me the opportunity to sell my works, teach and get exposure. In my post graduate years, I would like to ultimately limit teaching to workshop and online classes, so I can dedicate my hours to producing work that can support me but most importantly, make work that speaks my true essence while still being academic focused. I’m inspired to eventually work on pieces larger than life size and to bring back the beauty of academic art but still make it relevant. I dream of having my own shows and making the best works I can as an artist. These big ideas that I have are telling me that it is necessary to be part of communities that cultivate such ambitious art making, which is why staying in NYC during my developing years as an artist is beyond vital.

 

My name is Lara Saunders and I’m living and studying in NYC. I attend Grand Central Atelier and I am currently in my third year of my studies at the age of 19. Having taken part time classes at GCA since the time I was 12, I continued taking workshops and part time classes throughout my high school years, until I decided after the 11th grade that I wanted to attend GCA fulltime. With the exception made by GCA, I left high school a year early and joined the Core Full-Time Program when I turned 17. Thus far, I won two Structure Prix Competitions, which are 20 hour figure poses that GCA holds monthly. I have been accepted for this summers Hudson River Fellowship. Last fall, I had the pleasure to attend and win a Salmagundi Club portrait competition. I sell a lot of my personal and student work from my time at school. This year, I also began teaching drawing classes via Zoom and I have private students that I instruct.