Lucelle Raad Biography
When asked why she devotes her talent exclusively to painting children, Lucelle Raad is quick to reply "There is more character in an offhand gesture by a small child than in all the posturing of our adult world".
A passing glance at the paintings and prints in her Long Island studio confirms the point. She appears, in her work, to be obsessed with capturing the single gesture position and attitude most suggestive of an individual nature. She loves painting children, particularly in beach settings. Usually, the facial features of the children are obscured, allowing the viewer to imagine themselves or their loved ones in the painting.
Originally from England, Lucelle lived in South Africa before eventually relocating to the United States. She remembers sketching as soon as she could hold a pencil and in her early twenties was introduced to the art world by a friend who painted alongside her at every opportunity. The local Art League President, watercolorist Keith Hoffman, was so impressed by her work that he persuaded her that there was a place for her as a professional artist.
Since then, painting initially her own two children and later others, Lucelle has rarely missed a day at the easel. Her popularity grew quickly, soon winning awards at shows from Maine to Florida. Her works were first published in the eighties, and today her paintings and prints can be found at galleries on every continent of the World.