"Go on - mock and gawk - and criticize - laugh and point - but don't look into my eyes ..."
Larina J. L'Etoile, born Larina Jo Anderson, daughter of Linda and Roy Anderson Jr. grew up in Carmichael and Fair Oaks, California. She attended UC Santa Cruz for one year where her original major was an interest in MCD Bio (Molecular, Cellular and Developmental). During her time in Santa Cruz she found that her natural talents as an artist were where her focus belonged and returned to Sacramento, California to attend and graduate from CSU Sacramento with a BA in Studio Arts, however as evident in the body of her artwork, her interest in MCD Bio remained a strong influence.
What is her artwork about? Her use of every medium is due to an interest in the reality of it all. She has always admired those who may create reality and life-like characteristics upon canvas, or other flat surfaces, but her fascination goes beyond this life-like re-creation of reality. What ignites that fuse that leads to a bomb of inspiration that bursts from her every depth and through not only her fingertips but every sensation? She asks that the viewer of her artwork wonder what happened. She asks that they be aware of the subtle hints that often seem commonplace and go unnoticed, the things that warn us and ask for our attention. She asks that you look, open your eyes, see and engage. Do not be an observer, a mere bystander, that simply stood by as all signs of tragedy passed, and then shed sympathy when all has fallen to pieces, when otherwise it could have been stopped.
She has a deep interest in what lies beneath. Take that how you will - background provides deep context, however when viewing her artwork she enjoys the notion that the viewer would have to interpret on their own what meaning each piece conveys without her description. She believes that each piece will speak for its own and each viewer will relate in their own way, which may even be a different perspective than her own.
