June Artist of the Month – Meet Vasilia Laskaris
Artist Vasilia Laskaris’ years of drawing and painting are inextricably bound to her love of family, friends, acquaintances and the dwellings and landscapes they adore. Growing up she was inspired by her father who was a mural painter, and began her studies at Mundelein College, now Loyola University of Chicago. She recalls, ” a teacher there told me to keep on painting,” and that she did. She completed her post-graduate work at the Art Institute of Chicago and became certified as an Art Specialist.
Vasilia married and moved to Needham, where she and her husband raised three girls. As they grew up, she began her fifteen-year teaching career in the Boston and Needham Public Schools, encouraging youth to value art. During this time she “kept on painting and drawing”, just as her teacher had instructed. Vasilia moves easily between several mediums including pastels, oil, watercolor, acrylic and charcoal. Her choice of medium is dependent on subject matter and mood, although she has a particular fondness of portraiture. She has kept busy throughout her life with commissioned portraiture of all ages.
The Laskaris family has a second home in Greece, where both the people and the landscape are among Vasilia’s favorite subjects. I looked at a painting which really touched me as it reminded me of my grandmother. She recalled, “A woman bought that painting because it reminded her of her own grandmother.” She is keenly adept at capturing familiar archetypes, as well as individual nuances and personality. One of her favorite paintings of a family friend (seen below) is an example of Vasilia’s love and skill in the area of portraiture.
In addition to being an exhibiting member of the Wellesley Society of Artists, she is also a member of the Needham Art Association, and a former “Copley Artist” as a member of the prestigious Copley Society of Boston. Laskaris has exhibited and received many awards for her work. She has had sixteen one-woman shows and has portraits and paintings in private collections throughout the United States, Canada, South America and Europe. The homes of her three daughters are galleries of her beloved works including self-portraits and portraits of her husband, children and grandchildren.
Liz Gorman grew up in Wellesley and has always been interested in the arts. While majoring in Art at Skidmore College, she concentrated on large abstract oil paintings. After graduating she enjoyed a long career at Houghton Mifflin Publishing and continued developing as a strong draftsman.
Janice Savery began painting seriously only 12 years ago, but she has always had a love for art and photography. She took some art courses in school, but as a young adult focused primarily on her career as a speech and language pathologist and raising her family.
Mi Herzog has always loved art but, in her early years, felt it was a priority to focus on her business education. She earned an MBA at Harvard and had a successful career in marketing. She married and became busy with her two children and work. In 2012 she took a trip to New Orleans with her friend who is an art historian, and after visiting many galleries, her passion for art was reignited.
Lori became interested in art at a very young age. She recalls a memorable visit to her grandmother’s house when she and her older sister wanted to color the same page in a coloring book. Determined to color the same image as her sister, Lori drew the dog that her sister was coloring freehand on a blank sheet of paper. Lori remembers, “My grandmother took me aside, and with a very serious tone, told me I was talented. I share this because it’s easy to forget how sincere words of encouragement can stay with someone for a lifetime.”
When Lori had children, she switched gears to become a stay-at-home mom while hand painting furniture as a creative outlet. With her children grown, she reignited her artistic passion in oil painting. Within a very short time, she has won over 25 awards for her paintings in local and national shows and last year was juried in as a member of the esteemed Copley Society of Art in Boston. Lori also shows her work as a Gallery Artist at Beacon Gallery also in Boston. She is grateful to encouraging mentors Catherine Kehoe and Nancy Colella.
After the Library Show awards presentation, Carol O’Malia entertained and inspired an audience of over 50 artists and art lovers in the Wakelin Room at the library. She discussed her artistic process by showing several of her “series” work which included beach balls, swimmers, boxers, pillows and snow. The energy of Carol’s work is simply remarkable, made only more amazing by its large scale. She generously shared information from her favorite paints to where she finds inspiration for titles. To complete the afternoon program, Carol even set up a small still life that she started if only to remind the audience that from simple beginnings great things can happen. To see more of Carol artwork visit her 
Sue began painting in the late 1960’s when her children were babies and she needed a creative outlet to pursue at home. Their family lived in Cambridge at that time, so Sue began taking courses at the Museum of Fine Arts. She developed a love for painting and has continued to take courses and workshops throughout her life.
