LASELLA CHRISTINE VITTONE

Lasella was born in La Mesa, California (San Diego) in 1972. She currently resides in Riverside County, California with her husband, 3 children, 3 dogs, a cat, & 1 fish. She loves all types of art, (watercolor, acrylic, oil, pencil & ink) Photography & Music. Lately her love for watercolor exceeds the others, which surprises her since she disliked it all through school. “Watercolor can be a beauty or it can turn into a beast, not too many second chances to get it right with watercolor. The amazing transparency and learning to let the water work with the paint. You have to respect it. With Acrylics, I love the hard edge, fast drying and more vibrant colors. With Oils, the never ending possibility of blending and changing ideas. Photography is just a given, it goes hand and hand with art. I bet you can ask any artist and you’ll find a photographer too.”

Lasella was named after her grandmother, Lasella Blanche (Topper) Heath (2/9/1920 - 6/22/2007), also an artist. There are many artistic/creative people in Lasella’s family, her brother Lance, cousins, Great-Grandfather, (her mom & dad a little too), and of course her grandmother.

Lasella’s family and friends call her by her middle name, “Christine”. She chose to sign her artwork under her first name in her teenagers years to honor her grandmothers talents. Back then she would sign her work “Lasella II” since her grandmother was the original.

As a child, She was a bit shy, never caused much trouble, liked a lot of what her older brother was into, skating, skate boarding, heavy metal music - first album was “Love Gun” by Kiss at the age of 8. Lasella moved around a lot as a kid. Her mom and dad divorced when she was 2. She lived with her mom until age 9, then moved to Orange County to live with her dad, step-mom, and step sister. She started riding horses at age 9 and eventually got one of her own at age 11. Enjoyed horse life/stable days until age 14, moved back to San Diego with her mom at age 15, as her dad moved to Texas.

Lasella has loved art for as long as she can remember, always drawing, painting, being creative. She took art classes and drafting all of her Junior high & high school days, only to get mad at her teacher her Junior year and decided not to take his Senior Studio art class because she knew she was correct, “I’ll show him (he was color blind) what did he know….NOW I KNOW, he knew A LOT.” It didn’t steer her away from art for too long. She was always creating new paintings and giving them away. Lasella always thought of Art as a career, but there was no one really there nurturing her talents, it was looked at as more of a hobby, even though she always categorized herself as an Artist.

“I really feel artistic people truly look at the world differently - seeing things, lighting, shapes, appreciating details at a deeper level. It is truly an awesome gift.” “I love being in the moment with my artwork, but in that same moment, getting lost in it.”

In 2004, a year after her first child was born, Lasella decided to get serious about her art. She then went on to have twins in 2006, which of course took priority over her art. She has always known that one day this would be her path. Lasella loves art too much to let it just be a pastime.

On June 22, 2007, Lasella’s grandmother passed in a horrific car accident. This hit Lasella so hard, she has had a lot of difficulties after that, went though counseling and had to pull it together for her family. “In someway by painting, I feel like she is still with us. With every painting, I dedicate it in someway to her. When I finish my work and I sign my name, there is a very special moment for me continuing the family talent.” “I painted my grandmother’s portrait and she is with me everyday in my art studio.”

Lasella hopes you enjoy her artwork and photography