What is LatroArt Drawing and Painting?

I am the originator and developer of LatroArt. “Latro” derives from the word “Latrodectus”—a genus of spiders, most of which are black widows. LatroArt can be defined as “to draw and paint using the elements and principles of spider-web construction.” Of course, spiders use many techniques to create webs, but I mainly draw long lines to form the image.   In the normal painting process, the relative lightness or darkness of a color defines form. Sharp contrasts in value within a composition may set the boundaries of forms. Gradations of value or shading also create the illusion of contour and volume. 


      With LatroArt, I create an image mostly with straight lines such that the use of the contour line is minimal. The movement and energy in the tracks have a continuous flow. Three-dimensional shape— the illusion of depth and form—is created by merely tweaking the lines.
      As a kid, I loved adventure and was always curious about everything I saw. Spider webs fascinated me. I would watch the slow webbing process for hours. Who knew that I was being inspired to invent a new style of painting someday? For a few days in 2002, I stayed with a friend in his basement apartment, which was dark and infested with spiders. One bit me, and when I returned from the Emergency Room, I found myself staring at the spider’s web. For a minute, I forgot about the bite. I got lost in the world of imagination, and LatroArt was born. That bite changed everything for me.
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