Today we’d like to introduce you to John Laroche
Hi John, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
As a kid, I had an intriguing sense to be an entrepreneur but I didn’t have an idea on where to land and settle in a career path. Out of college, I managed an office for an lux Interior Designer in Palm Beach, which fascinated me. This somehow then led me to designing live orchid arrangements for a high end florist also in Palm Beach, florida for a number of years.
At the same time, I bought my first house when I turned 24 and began flipping houses about every 6-12 month, doing every bit of renovations myself. When I felt that I had exhausted opportunity and happiness, I took my experience and knowledge and moved to Boston, Massachusetts, where I launched my Floral and Event Design Company that I kept for 18 years. This would essentially encompass creating interior designs, florals, lighting, food, experiences and all the theatrics of creating events. After a few years, I established a full time and vast part time team, a 6,000 sq foot warehouse production space and a lengthy list of corporate and private clients. In the middle of that timeframe, I co-founded a second Event Production and Design company based in Los Angeles with a global focus. We produced events from Hawaii to Shanghai and essentially this had an opposite effect for me as a creative person. It meant that I owned two companies along with my personal relationship, house and dogs and no space to be creative. So I began to paint on canvas as my creative outlet and a place for a more permanent expression, opposite to the 6+ hour event programs I had been producing for years. This was the discovery I had been looking for.
With a lifelong goal to settle in Los Angeles, I made the move in 2017, closed the door on events and began to paint full time professionally here in Los Angeles.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Smooth is not the journey I would describe for myself. Over achiever with too many ideas, walking away from one identity to begin a new career as a self taught abstract painter in a new city with no friends, as an adult just before the pandemic lockdown, was far less than ideal.
The struggle to discover who I am as an artist was also something I needed to overcome. Learning how to apply to canvas what I have in mind, is often very challenging. After several years of expression, I finally understand who I am.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
There are three significant bodies of work that I am especially very proud of. One, is my use of color to create dynamic and layered expressions that embody optimistic emotions. The painting either monochromatic or various colors, has a beautifully smooth utilization of tones. With either subtle or obvious texture that adds to the strength of personality. Some of these have embedded words or phrases that speak of optimism.
The second is a dynamic and abstract approach to profiles. Sophisticated, colorful and bold ideas of style and significance in human achievement are the purpose of my new work. All abstract of course, and my version of Pop Art meets Animation Art.
I also have a line of hand painted clothing with skeleton art that I am proud of.
What were you like growing up?
The middle child of four, I was a bossy vocal and expressive kid. Defending other kids that didn’t know how to defend themselves, I was the rebel and activist that I have continued to be to this day. Active in swimming and track, yet performing in the drama department was my true identity. My senior year, the Drama coach resigned, so I saw it fitting that I take over the department to direct, act and produce the seasons lineup. I was an intense kid but loved humor.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.johnlaroche.art
- Instagram: John_laroche
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/johnlaroche13
