Why I Paint

I once stood in front of a painting in a museum and I actually got goosebumps. I stood far away, then I got closer. I looked at it from an inch away, trying to figure out how the artist was able to achieve the effects that he did. I was so close that I made the museum guard nervous.

My goal as an artist is to make paintings that affect people like that. That goal has taken me on a long journey of discovery, studying and painting and studying some more.

I want to make things come alive on the canvas through color and brushstrokes. My wish is that you fall in love with my work and want to see it in your home.

I use oil paints to capture color and light. The buttery texture of oil is more appealing than any other medium I have experimented with. For the most part, I work traditionally, employing a monochromatic underpainting and layering colors over that. Still, I am open to exploring new methods in my work to keep it fresh and exciting.

About the Artist

“Glowing with color and light,” and “Ethereal, impressionistic, illuminating,” are some of the comments describing Lina Ferrara’s paintings. The use of light and shadow in her works draw viewers to see an easily overlooked beauty in common fruits, flowers, and animals. The detailed, realistic renderings make one pause to reconsider the splendor of commonplace items. All these comments underscore her mission as an artist: “to bring joy, embody beauty, spark recognition, and elicit memory using ordinary objects.” 

Raised in New York City, the child of immigrants, Lina says her cultural heritage informs her aesthetic. A pivotal experience in her childhood, going back to live in Italy for six months on her grandparent’s farm in the mountains of the Amalfi Coast, influenced her love for painting animals.

To this day, she says that “painting farm animals is like painting memories of the four-year-old who stood outside the stall door watching my grandmother tend to the cows, chickens, and mules. I can still hear the swishing sound that the milk makes when it hits the side of the metal bucket.” 

The seeds planted then took root and influenced her to major in dairy science at Penn State University. With her first husband, she milked 65 cows and shared in the work of operating a family farm. With three children under the age of four, a trip to the feed mill or the grocery store were her only outings. Her wise mother-in-law suggested that she find something to do off the farm as an outlet. After her first painting class, Lina began studying and practicing whenever she could. The experience instilled a lifelong desire to learn from other artists, whether through studying others’ works or through intensive workshops guided by accomplished painters from around the world. 

Lina Ferrara was fortunate to pursue post-graduate study in art history and Italian at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, PA. During one of several visits to Florence, she studied gilding and furniture painting in the “grotessca” style popularized by Raphael. These visits afforded her the opportunity to closely study Renaissance artwork, which she claims was “pivotal” to her career as a painter. 

Her work has appeared in numerous juried art shows and exhibits, resulting in many awards. Her artistic footprint extends globally, with her paintings finding a cherished place in private collections across the U.S., Italy, Holland, and Germany. Notable institutions, including the White House, the Library of Congress, and Woodmode Industries in Kramer, PA, proudly showcase Lina's captivating artworks.

She is currently represented by Smith Fine Art Gallery and Custom Framing in New Cumberland, PA, and Allenberry Resort in Boiling Springs, PA. Lina Ferrara also sells her work at fine art fairs and through her website, and she enjoys creating commissioned paintings for her collectors.

Artist Statement

Observing creation through the lens of optimism, I distill complex visual cues, emphasizing only the essential elements to create impact in my paintings.

My canvas becomes a playground for both natural and manmade subjects, capturing the vibrancy of nature and the stillness of carefully arranged compositions. I am particularly drawn to the interplay of light and the nuanced shifts in color. My focus extends beyond the obvious, highlighting seemingly inconspicuous elements, such as the way light delicately caresses the edge of an object.

What appears realistic at a distance becomes an unexpected collection of brushstrokes. and colors—a revelation born from a careful analysis of light. Light serves as a transformative agent, elevating the ordinary into the extraordinary. Through this alchemical process, I uncover the hidden radiance within each color, revealing it’s refined and captivating charm. 

In essence, my work is a celebration of the transformative power of light—a dynamic force that collaborates with my artist’s tools to reveal the hidden beauty and complexity inherent in the world around us.

If you love looking at art, I encourage you to out these other wonderful artists at  https://www.matttommeymentoring.com/christianartistdirectory.html