Harold Lapointe Holds His First Sarasota Art Exhibit at American Classic Car Sales

SARASOTA, FL , April 14, 2013 (Press-News.org) Ninety-three-year-old Sarasota artist Harold Lapointe recently held his first local art exhibition at American Classic Car Sales in Sarasota, Florida.

Lapointe's colorful sunsets, marine scenes and portraits were displayed amid rare classic cars and sexy muscle cars in the 21,000-square-foot dealership. The exhibition was part of a surprise birthday party for Larry Gilliland, a co-owner of American Classic Car Sales.

"I'm a great fan of Harold's work," said Gilliland's wife and co-owner Marcy Gilliland, who organized the event.

A longtime winter resident who now lives in Sarasota full time, Lapointe has been painting since he was 7 years old, but pursued his passion in earnest after retiring as a commercial artist at age 62.

Devoting a couple hours a day to his craft, Lapointe has created more than 60 works of art, ranging from patriotic paintings to peaceful landscapes with a beautifully detailed elegance. Nearly all of his serenely realistic paintings evoke a nostalgic air of days gone by. He draws his inspiration from a variety of sources, including travel brochures and catalogues. When a particular image stands out to him, he takes great joy in re-creating it on canvas, he says.

The paintings on exhibit included an idyllic Sarasota beach at sunset and marine scenes of Hampton Beach, New Hampshire, where Lapointe used to spend his summers. One painting is a delightfully peaceful small-town marina in Rockport, Massachusetts, with boats moored against the backdrop of rustic homes scattered along a lush shoreline. The reflections cast upon the tranquil waters create an astounding sense of realism.

Although he has had many offers over the years from art lovers eager to buy his works, Lapointe refuses to sell them. He and his wife of more than 70 years, Norma, have four adult children and numerous grandchildren, so his paintings are distributed among family. He also has made gifts of them to close friends, and enjoys sharing them with the public. His works have been displayed at the Hampton Beach town hall.

American Classic Car Sales is located at 1683 Cattlemen Road, Sarasota, Florida 34232. Telephone: (941) 928-2339. Website: http://www.AmericanClassicCarSales.com.