Joshua LaRock will turn 40 in August. Artistically, however, he’s a bit of an old soul. Inspired by the 19th century painters, he is a classical realist. Brilliantly executed, LaRock’s paintings have earned him designation as a living master by the Art Renewal Center and have been exhibited at prestigious venues that include the Autry Museum, the Beijing World Art Museum, and the National Portrait Gallery in London.

LaRock’s paintings have been described as “classic nostalgia with a masterful touch.” That’s quite a compliment considering the fact that he began to study art just 16 years ago.

Read the full article in the March/April 2022 issue.

Let the Rain Come

Oil
30” by 42”

“I was really captivated by the model’s expression and gesture here. I wanted to imagine her amid a striking landscape, where she was basking in the warmth of the sun but also welcoming the first drops of a friendly rain as it nourished the dry land. This piece was included in the 2022 Masters of the American West Exhibition and Sale at the Autry Museum in February.”

The Tracker

Oil
42” by 42”

“It is usually an interesting pose or light effect that is my initial inspiration for a painting but I also like to think about a simple backstory to inform the composition. Here we find a cowboy examining footprints in a riverbank but who is he in pursuit of—an animal, a person? We are left to our own imaginations.”