We had the good fortune of connecting with Lu Ross and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lu, where are you from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?

I was born and raised in Santiago, Chile where my French-Italian family introduced me to a life of travel and appreciation for the arts. In my earlier years, I spent many summer vacations with my family by the coast at the seaside resort of Viña Del Mar. Winter family vacations were usually spent skiing at resorts in the Andes. I was captivated by the power and beauty of nature at an early age. The time I spent by the sea and the mountains greatly contributed to my awareness and respect for nature. I began to notice how the light affected the ocean and created forever-changing hues; how the highlights and shadows created by the rising and setting of the sun on the mountains painted a fleeting yet majestic picture. I was inspired to capture these moments and sought ways to translate this majesty into my artistic medium.

Like many artists, my love for art began at an early age. My mother was a painter, and her art turned out to be one of my greatest inspirations. She loved Impressionism and as I became exposed to it, I learned about the style and painters of that era. Their use of light, color, highlights, and shadows deeply resonated with me and became a big influence and inspiration for my photography.

A life of travel has inspired a wide range of subject matter in my work. As a photographer, I use natural light to capture moments of beauty. I create art to celebrate life and inspire the viewer to connect and experience nature’s peace, calm, and joy. I paint with light and tell a beautiful story.

I use my photography as a visual language to communicate and inspire. It’s a tool with which to create awareness of the sacredness of nature and pay homage to the amazing world we live in as well as encourage its preservation. Experiencing nature brings joy and health to everyone that participates. Through my art, I seek to capture the experience of nature’s peace and joy that resonates with the viewer.
My ultimate goal as an artist is to alluringly convey the healing power of art and nature to my audience.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

As an artist, I find my inspiration in nature. After spending long periods of time observing Mother Nature I have come to realize that the beauty, peace, and joy you experience while out in the wilderness has a very real and strong healing power. My mission is to invite my audience to experience this through my art.
I am proud of the fact that many of my collectors have found that sense of calm and peace in the art that now lives in their homes. The art improves their environment and their emotional quality of life.

When I made the transition from web designer to a full-time artist I first started exhibiting my artwork at Art Shows where my art was very well received. I began to immerse myself in the art world and found a gallery to exhibit my work. Shortly after that, I was accepted for an Artist in Residence project, which resulted in several art shows and the subsequent creation of my first book.
Later on, my artwork was chosen for an exhibit at the Wildling Museum of Art and Nature, which also gave me the opportunity to donate a portion of my art sales to benefit the National Parks. Exhibiting my art at a museum gave me a boost to look for further representation. With this pursuit in mind, I researched the gallery market, which was a challenge in itself. As a result of my efforts, I was invited to exhibit my art at a local gallery. I have exhibited in several galleries since and I am consistently looking for new ways to expand my art business. My decision to design my own eCommerce site has proven to be a great investment of my time since it has allowed me to sell my art online.
Another avenue I have been working on to expand my art business is by collaborating directly with designers like Robert Esterley Designs (https://sacredliving.com/) as well as the possibility of opening my own gallery in the future.

Giving back is very important to me so I’m constantly looking for opportunities to participate in fundraisers and projects to benefit our world. I have become a partner with Nature First (https://www.naturefirstphotography.org/) to help educate and guide photographers in sustainable, minimal impact practices that will help preserve our planet.
I have also partnered with Give Back To Nature (https://www.givebacktonature.org/) where a percentage of my art sales go to help fund the planting of trees to combat deforestation, fight climate change, tackle the current global plastic waste problem, empower villagers and workers in impoverished countries, and help businesses offset their carbon and plastic footprint.

I create representational art as well as abstracts of nature. Most importantly, I create peaceful environments with images of nature to calm, reduce stress, and improve health.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

I live in Laguna Niguel, California. I am grateful that my home is a five-minute drive to the beach because I love the ocean. There are several small beach cities within a thirty-minute drive, which makes it a great place to visit.
Day one: I would first take my friend to Dana Point to experience a Whale Watching and Dolphin Watching Safari with “Captain Dave”.
On our way back we would stop at Harpoon Henry’s Restaurant for dinner with a great view of the Dana Point Harbor.

Day two: We would take the Catalina Express from Dana Point to Catalina Island. Once we dock on Avalon we could relax, enjoy the beach, and stroll to one of the many waterside restaurants. We could also go on a Catalina Bison Expedition. It’s a two-hour tour in an eco-friendly 4-wheel drive vehicle. The tour takes you to the island’s interior to Cape Canyon and along Sheep Chute Road where we would see herds of American bison among other local wildlife.

Day three: As a way to slow down the pace, we would go for lunch at the Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel located at nearby Salt Creek Beach. After enjoying delicious food and a fabulous ocean view we could take a walk on the beach below and continue along to the Dana Point Highlands path. This area boasts spectacular views of the ocean and nearby cities.

Day4: Just twenty minutes north is Laguna Beach, known for its scenic coves, environmental preservation, and being an artist community. We would walk around town visiting galleries, museums, and shops. There is a wide selection of restaurants but one of my favorites is Romeo Cucina for its authentic Italian food.

Day 5: Thirty minutes north is Newport Beach known for being one of the largest recreational boat harbors on the U.S. west coast. Here we could visit Corona Del Mar State Beach, Balboa Island, the Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve, or go sailing. I would choose the latter since we have a sailboat in Newport Beach and we would go on a beautiful day sail along the coast.
On our way back we would stop at the Rusty Pelican Restaurant to enjoy a tasty seafood dinner with a great view of the harbor.

Day 6: The city of San Clemente is about a twenty-five-minute drive south. This quaint “Spanish Village by the Sea” is known for its ocean, mountain views, and its colonial-style architecture. We would walk around town and along the beach stopping at The Fisherman’s Restaurant and Bar on the pier for an enjoyable lunch or catch the sunset during Happy Hour.

Day 7: San Juan Capistrano is only ten minutes away. This is a destination for the legendary swallows of Capistrano. We would tour the San Juan Capistrano Mission including the ruins of the 1797 Great Stone Church and gardens. After having lunch at Trevor’s at the Tracks we would explore the Los Rios Historic District and visit buildings such as the 1881 Ramos House Café and the 1794 Montanez Adobe as well as art galleries.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

First and foremost, I would like to say thank you to the members of my family. I would like to thank my husband, Don, my “Sherpa” as he amusingly calls himself, for his assistance on every photoshoot and for his love and support. A special thank you to my two wonderful children, Jenny and Nick for their continual love and support.

I would like to gratefully acknowledge and thank the Mojave National Preserve Artist Foundation for the opportunity to create the project “Elements of Mojave” as an Artist in Residence, which gave birth to my first book.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Bob Killen for the time he spent showing me around the amazing Mojave National Preserve. His help was instrumental for later navigating the Preserve. I thank Bob for his dedication to the Artist in Residence Program.

My most sincere thank you to Jason Horejs, at Xanadu Gallery – Art Business Academy, for his mentorship on navigating the art business world and specifically giving me invaluable advice on creating an art book.

I would also like to give a shout-out to the New York Institute of Photography. It is a great school where I had the opportunity to perfect my photographic skills.

Another shout-out to David duChemin for his dedication and guidance in the ever-changing world of art marketing.

Last but not least Art Wolfe’s seminars, books, and photography have been a great inspiration for me.

Website: https://lurossphotography.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lurossphotography/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lurossphotography/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LuRossPhotography/

Other: – Lu Ross Photography – Google Search: http://bit.ly/3tTkzBy

– “Elements of Mojave” by Lu Ross – Book available for purchase at BLURB http://bit.ly/2MaVVtg and AMAZON https://amzn.to/2Tn4jXp

– Purchase art to contribute to the Mojave National Preserve Artist Foundation at: https://www.mojaveair.org/product-category/lu-ross/

– I partner with the “GIVE BACK TO NATURE ” where a percentage of my art sales go to help fund the planting of trees to combat deforestation, fight climate change, tackle the current global plastic waste problem, empower villagers and workers in impoverished countries, and help businesses offset their carbon and plastic footprint. If you would like to help please visit: https://lurossphotography.com/give-back-to-nature-project/

– I partner with NATURE FIRST and promote their seven core principles on how to enjoy nature photography responsibly. For more information please visit: https://www.naturefirstphotography.org/en/principles

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutSocal is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.