Robert Lazo

My love affair with art began on a crisp Halloween evening—October 31st, 1964—in the quiet charm of our Lake Forest, Illinois neighborhood. I was just ten, out trick-or-treating, when a kind couple invited us in for warm cider. Hanging on their wall was Sky Above the Clouds II by Georgia O’Keeffe. That moment altered something deep within me. I’ve never been the same since.

To this day, I remain utterly captivated by painting—I love, love, love it. While I consider myself a far better collector than painter, I find joy in both pursuits.

Creating art is an exhilarating paradox: invigorating and maddening in equal measure. Yet I can’t seem to stop. It’s become a necessity, a rhythm of living.

One quote that continues to guide me comes from Jasper Johns:
“Take a canvas. Make a mark on it. Make another mark on it.”

It’s my mantra. Sometimes, the result is a dud. But every now and then—a jewel appears.