Latta's Art Biography
Template Designed by Latta via His Artwork
ART..."No one ever died painting an art piece, the worst
scenario is a futile painting---A redo ! But real artists don't
make mistakes, they just make beautiful happenings"...
Latta 2005
LITERARY..."A window of light is a life of glory to behold"...
Latta 2006
ARCHIVE..."Art is the essence of the beauty it sustains"...
Latta 2007
scenario is a futile painting---A redo ! But real artists don't
make mistakes, they just make beautiful happenings"...
Latta 2005
LITERARY..."A window of light is a life of glory to behold"...
Latta 2006
ARCHIVE..."Art is the essence of the beauty it sustains"...
Latta 2007
******************Art Biography by Richard Matheson, Publicist**************************
I met Latta Clifford Kussman in an abstract painting class in January 2008. For the next
several months, I observed Latta's skills in rendering extremely good and well thought out
paintings. The Latta story is quite interesting and provides an explanation for his artistic efforts.
several months, I observed Latta's skills in rendering extremely good and well thought out
paintings. The Latta story is quite interesting and provides an explanation for his artistic efforts.
Latta was born in Springfield, Ohio in March 1942. His mother, widowed in 1948, moved the
family to Montgomery, Alabama to be close to relatives.
family to Montgomery, Alabama to be close to relatives.
Latta recalls being left in a 2nd grade cloak room to perform art for the entire day. The teacher
did not provide traditional learning for him, so Latta left the 2nd grade with a taste for art,
without the academics, but later placed in remedial programs. The teacher mysteriously kept
all the artwork and no explanation was offered for this strange practice. Latta was a grown
adult before he shared this reason for remedial lessons with his mother, who failed to understand
it at that time.
did not provide traditional learning for him, so Latta left the 2nd grade with a taste for art,
without the academics, but later placed in remedial programs. The teacher mysteriously kept
all the artwork and no explanation was offered for this strange practice. Latta was a grown
adult before he shared this reason for remedial lessons with his mother, who failed to understand
it at that time.
Montgomery, Alabama, in those years, lacked art classes in-or-out of school. Latta knew no art
supply stores. He used the paint around the house, stubs of pencils and paper from a willing
butcher to produce what art he could. From these early beginnings, the love of art was launched.
supply stores. He used the paint around the house, stubs of pencils and paper from a willing
butcher to produce what art he could. From these early beginnings, the love of art was launched.
Latta has a long association with watercolor painting. His inspiration and artistic style seems to be
related to the archaic style of art (a format from the Dorian Greek Era), rigid, melodramatic and volatile
in style, but also a whimsy quality in some work done in lighter moments.
related to the archaic style of art (a format from the Dorian Greek Era), rigid, melodramatic and volatile
in style, but also a whimsy quality in some work done in lighter moments.
After high school in 1960, Latta entered the US Air Force. During this time, he produced three
murals using enamel paint due to weather conditions.
murals using enamel paint due to weather conditions.
Latta's military service was cut short due to spinal and respiratory illnesses in 1962, a
foreshortening of future dire sickness. He recovered slowly until 1967, when he could enter
Huntingdon College of Montgomery. While at Huntingdon, Latta directed a group of students painting
a 75 foot stage back drop for an outdoor play. This experience sealed his resolve and after
conversations with a grateful Art instructor, Latta adopted art as a minor study.
foreshortening of future dire sickness. He recovered slowly until 1967, when he could enter
Huntingdon College of Montgomery. While at Huntingdon, Latta directed a group of students painting
a 75 foot stage back drop for an outdoor play. This experience sealed his resolve and after
conversations with a grateful Art instructor, Latta adopted art as a minor study.
Latta armed with a BS in Math and a minor in Art came to Chicago and went to work in the
insurance industry since his medical etiology required sedentary job functions. During
this period, Latta accepted commissions for artwork.
insurance industry since his medical etiology required sedentary job functions. During
this period, Latta accepted commissions for artwork.
From 1976 to 1982, Latta took art classes at College of DuPage, in Glen Ellyn, Illinois eventually
earning an AA degree.
earning an AA degree.
Cruel illnesses then interfered with Latta's life as early as 1985, complicated with two terrible auto accidents
in 1983 and in 1994, which were not his fault. His two time broken necks lead to additional
complications with spinal trauma, several serious operations, nerve damage and spinal fusion, and early age
multiple concussions, have all left him with degenerative neuropathy and chronic pain development, which he
must live with for the remainder of his life. Latta went on full permanent disability April 19, 1990, a day he
will never forget. Since that time, Latta has lived in a heavily medicated fog in an increasingly
vain attempt to still his chronic pain.
in 1983 and in 1994, which were not his fault. His two time broken necks lead to additional
complications with spinal trauma, several serious operations, nerve damage and spinal fusion, and early age
multiple concussions, have all left him with degenerative neuropathy and chronic pain development, which he
must live with for the remainder of his life. Latta went on full permanent disability April 19, 1990, a day he
will never forget. Since that time, Latta has lived in a heavily medicated fog in an increasingly
vain attempt to still his chronic pain.
Latta realized in 2005 the quality of his life was not what he wanted it to be. With his strong faith
in the Lord God and a pure determination, he weaned himself off pain medications. The pain
remains but the drugs which masked part have been stopped.
in the Lord God and a pure determination, he weaned himself off pain medications. The pain
remains but the drugs which masked part have been stopped.
In October 2005, Latta completed a watercolor painting "Blue RTH" (Blue Red Tail Hawk)
(see attached image) and has not looked back since.
(see attached image) and has not looked back since.
Artist Statement.........................
My work stems from my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, our Lord, and in the empathy I have for
the human spirit. I believe the pain I endure makes me a more sensitive and aware artist. I seek
to demonstrate with color, careful design and emotion what I have bottled up for decades. Simply,
it is my life translated and finally recorded.
My work stems from my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, our Lord, and in the empathy I have for
the human spirit. I believe the pain I endure makes me a more sensitive and aware artist. I seek
to demonstrate with color, careful design and emotion what I have bottled up for decades. Simply,
it is my life translated and finally recorded.
Art Exhibitions/Shows Included the Following:
Latta's Imaginative Artistic Creativity
Emerging Artists 2005-14th Annual International Competition for March 7, 2006 by Slow Art
Productions, 123 Warren St., Hudson, NY 12534
4th Annual Arts in Bartlett of July 28 & 29, 2005, 2006 & 2007 Bartlett, Illinois
A Singular Creation Art Competition, October 13, 2005 & 2006, www.asingularcreation.com
Emerging Artists November 2006 Juried Exhibition, www.emergingartistsgroup.com
Artist's Magazine All-Media Online Competition of December 1, 2006,
www.artistsmagazine.com
Watercolor Magic's Water-Media Showcase of November 1, 2006,
www.watermediashowcase.com
American Artist 70th Anniversary Art Competition of April 1, 2007,
www.myamericanartist.com
17th Annual Wilmette Festival of Fine Arts of September 15 & 16, 2006, Wilmette, Illinois
47th Annual Arts in Riverwoods-Ryerson Woods of May 1, 2007, Riverwoods, Illinois
www.arttsandriverwoods.com
The 2008 Common Ground Collection International Touring Exhibit of September 30, 2007
www.commonground2008.com
A Singular Creation Art Competition Monthly Exhibits January through June of 2007
www.asingularcreation.com
The Artist's Magazine All-Media Online Competition November 3, 2008 through March 1, 2009 by F & W
Publications via "The Artist's Magazine"
The Assorted Candy Art Show, Wings Gallery, College of DuPage, October 6th-November 3rd, 2008
Productions, 123 Warren St., Hudson, NY 12534
4th Annual Arts in Bartlett of July 28 & 29, 2005, 2006 & 2007 Bartlett, Illinois
A Singular Creation Art Competition, October 13, 2005 & 2006, www.asingularcreation.com
Emerging Artists November 2006 Juried Exhibition, www.emergingartistsgroup.com
Artist's Magazine All-Media Online Competition of December 1, 2006,
www.artistsmagazine.com
Watercolor Magic's Water-Media Showcase of November 1, 2006,
www.watermediashowcase.com
American Artist 70th Anniversary Art Competition of April 1, 2007,
www.myamericanartist.com
17th Annual Wilmette Festival of Fine Arts of September 15 & 16, 2006, Wilmette, Illinois
47th Annual Arts in Riverwoods-Ryerson Woods of May 1, 2007, Riverwoods, Illinois
www.arttsandriverwoods.com
The 2008 Common Ground Collection International Touring Exhibit of September 30, 2007
www.commonground2008.com
A Singular Creation Art Competition Monthly Exhibits January through June of 2007
www.asingularcreation.com
The Artist's Magazine All-Media Online Competition November 3, 2008 through March 1, 2009 by F & W
Publications via "The Artist's Magazine"
The Assorted Candy Art Show, Wings Gallery, College of DuPage, October 6th-November 3rd, 2008
All Rights Reserved via 1978 Copyr. Law > www.whatiscopyright.org
 |  |  |  |
Latta
Latta
Read Latta's Supplemental Statement in His November 19, 2008 Blog
****Visit with Alyson Stanfield, the ultimate art business
consultant guru, via http://snipurl.com/dgcab****
consultant guru, via http://snipurl.com/dgcab****