His heart is in art

For years Ladale Lloyd made a living as a journalist. Now he's made a career switch and is hoping painting, specifically portraiture, will pay the bills.

By JACKIE RIPLEY

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 26, 2000

LAKE MAGDALENE -- Ladale Lloyd has always had a passion: Painting.

Now he has a mission: Producing enough portraits to make a living from that passion.

"I'm putting together a body of work so I can show people what I can do," said Lloyd who until a month ago made his living as a journalist for the Tampa Tribune.

Now he's making his living as an artist. But he still has a deadline.

"I'm giving myself one year to have the same salary I made with the Tribune," Lloyd said.

To friends and associates, Lloyd's career change might seem sudden. But the 39-year-old artist has had his plan in place for years.

"All those years I'd get off work at the Tribune, take off my work clothes and put on painting clothes and stay up until 1 a.m.," Lloyd said. It was "very critical I get a body of work together."

Lloyd, who studied art at Alabama State University, said he knew he would ultimately make his living as an artist.

"I never waivered," he said.

His first job was in Anniston, Ala., as a photographer for the Anniston Star. At the same time he was in graduate school, earning a master's degree in journalism with an emphasis on photography.

He landed a newspaper job in Tennessee. "I was making decent money and taking a breath," Lloyd said. But, "I feel empty if I'm not painting."

He got serious again about his art at about the same time he married his college sweetheart, Lasonja Smith, a manager with IBM. They made a pact. When her career took off he would pursue painting, full time.

"I've chosen one of the most difficult professions," Lloyd said. "But it's where my heart is."

While making money as a painter might seem unlikely, Lloyd has chosen one of the more lucrative areas in his medium, portraiture.

"Portraits are not like doing abstracts. You can make a living," said Lloyd, whose portraits start at $1,000.

Lloyd begins his day by getting the couple's four-year-old daughter, Kayla, ready for school. Then it's into a back bedroom -- his home studio -- where he paints until 9 or 10 p.m.

Lloyd's 16-year-old daughter, Sequoria, lives in Atlanta with her mother.

"I try to stick to a regular schedule," Lloyd said. But it's tempting to "go running to the store, or fill the day doing house work or fixing things."

Lloyd "is a very talented artist," said Marylyn Lowe, owner of Soho South, an art gallery in St. Petersburg. "I've had several shows featuring him."

Lloyd's immediate plans include art shows around the state. But one day he hopes to be able to work in a gallery where people can watch while he paints.

"I pick up cues from the person during the interview," Lloyd said. A portrait "is more than just a physical representation. I like to think I am capturing the soul, the spirit."

-- Jackie Ripley can be reached at (813) 226-3468 or ripley@sptimes.com.

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