Get to Know Lucy Reiser

What artists inspire you the most?
Alex Katz always inspires me with his color choices and compositions. He is an all-time favorite. I also love Helen Frankenthaler, Joan Mitchell, and to name a few more contemporary artists Lily Stockman, Richard Claremont, and both of my grandmothers, Joan Williams and Anne Reiser, who were professional painters for many years.

Name a favorite work of art that comes to mind. Why are you drawn to it?
Primavera by Botticelli. I got to see this one in person at the Uffizi several years ago and the use of color and contrast and scale is absolutely enchanting - specifically those flowers in the foreground have stayed in my mind ever since.

You spend a great deal of time teaching and mentoring other artists. What is one piece of advice you have to an artist who is just beginning their career?
Prioritize it. I truly think the key to growing an artistic practice is simply doing it often. Make a studio space, even if it's a folding table in the corner of your kitchen, and just keep at it. Also, expect to make lots of art you don't like at first. That's very normal and all part of the process.