Larry Preston was born in Worcester, MA and spent much of his teenage years at the Worcester Art Museum viewing the museum's collection of Flemish still life paintings. At a young age, he began imitating their work and eventually arrived at the technique he uses today to painting still lifes and landscapes. Completely self-taught, his work evolved over many years. He chooses to paint those objects he sees around him, simple everyday objects that he finds beautiful and are often overlooked. It might be a single flower or a piece of fruit or a bucolic landscape. "I paint what I find beautiful" says the artist. "I do not paint to be relevant, for an audience or (to) make any statement other than the beauty found in objects I choose to paint." In addition to his life as a painter, Larry Preston also embarked on a successful career as a musician at a very young age. After 25 years in the music business, he decided to return to his first love, painting. Experimenting with a variety of approaches including surrealism and abstraction, his desire to paint still lifes and landscapes eventually evolved into the focus of his work. Larry Preston's work has won numerous national awards, including several from The Artist's Magazine, The Art Calendar, National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society, Bold Brush and many juried art exhibits and competitions. He has been featured in The American Artist Magazine (2005), American Art Collector (2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2021) and Artists to Watch 2019 Fine Art Connoisseur. Addtionally he has been a featured artist for PBS auctions. His work is included in national and international collections. Painting in oil on panel, Preston first sketches his work in charcoal and turpentine and then applies semi-transparent glazes. The resulting work has great depth and luminosity, as well as a quiet, introspective mood. Reflecting on the emotional quality of his work, Larry Preston says "I find that, in this modern world, there is too little observance of the beauty in our surroundings, the real importance in our lives. I paint to remind myself (about) what I find important and to experience the process of painting...I paint for myself. I am very pleased that my work resonates with people." Larry Preston lives and paints in Western Massachusetts.