good luck deluxe

It’s the coolest thing in the world when you haven’t talked to an old friend in a while, you reconnect, and discover that this friend has been fervently pursuing her creative passion all this time.

My virtual twin, Laura Mangual-Ritz, has always been a creative sort. I am so proud to witness the evidence of Laura concentrating and channeling her wildly creative energy into such quality photography and painting!

Laura and I met as teens in a journalism summer course many moons ago. I once believed that writing was Laura’s destiny, but one look at her paintings, and I am certain that she was born to paint.

Inspired by the late, great Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, Laura is a Cleveland-based artist of Puerto Rican descent who expresses her sometimes complex and multi-dimensional reality through her Kahloian art.

The above painting is entitled “Lost Love,” and was created by Laura in memory of her deceased father. Since I know the history of their distant, strained relationship, I am absolutely impressed with Laura’s intricacy of detail in this painting, and what she has managed to convey through it. Her father’s hand, his asymmetrical eyes, and her child self’s body language in the painting all tell the story without words.

Mrs. Mangual-Ritz demonstrates her artistic range by painting and photographing subjects of various flavors, from the whimsical to the tragic. Laura has never been one to pigeonhole herself, and I am elated to see that she dips her brush in whatever palette strikes her fancy.

“Marilyn Forever”

“Under the Tuscan Sun”

SOLD! This piece was bought by one of my readers the day after I posted this.

How Laura manages to produce such quality artwork, run a household, be a loving and supportive wife to her husband, and raise her three lively sons is beyond me.

The woman has energy that some of us can only DREAM of!

And has the nerve to be beautiful, to boot!

A member of the Euclid Art Association and the Cleveland Museum of Art, Laura continues to expand herself in other organizations and is involved in a number of charitable auctions when given throughout the year. Her work can be seen featured in art galleries and fine dining establishments throughout Cleveland, as well as
on her web site for purchase.

That’s MY GIRL!