ROMI CORTIER, a self taught fourth generation artist, watched his mother and grandmother work on paintings at the kitchen table, while growing up in the Pacific Northwest. He dabbled in sketching and acrylic painting in high school, but didn’t discover his true voice as an artist until he moved to Los Angeles in 1993.

     Romi’s first oil paintings were architectural in nature, inspired by the wet streets of Hollywood as seen from his first Los Angeles home, a tiny one room sublet. Further architectural inspiration came from the stucco clad homes in the hills above Laguna Beach, where he spent his first

summer weekends in southern California.  However, it was ultimately the interesting characters in Hollywood that would captivate his attention and turn him towards portraiture.

      As an artist taking acting classes, Romi became aware of the subtle nuances that created a character. It’s something in the eyes, an expression, a special moment caught in time, that says it all, regardless of the setting, explains Cortier. Starting with photographs, Romi lets his intuition guide him in interpreting his subjects. Some compositions are complex, while others are paired down and simple. Only after the painting is complete, is he able to describe in words, what came through him. Frequently his vision is clarified even further from the words of the viewer, as they react to his interpretation of the subject.

     In 2000 Romi enrolled in UCLA’s highly regarded Interior Design program. With his newly attained knowledge, he turned his attention towards renovating homes In Los Angeles and Palm Springs. Romi was inspired to create works of art, to hang in his works of arts, ultimately creating many layers of artistry.

     In 2006 two of his paintings were published by Pop Art Books, in the book Marilyn in Art, created to celebrate Marilyn Monroe’s 80th Birthday. His interior design and paintings were seen in Us Weekly and Lifestyle Properties magazines, as well as on Entertainment Tonight, and exhibitions of his paintings were held in Los Angeles.

     Today, Romi Cortier continues his trajectory through his painting and interior design, dividing his time between studios in Los Angeles and Palm Springs. No matter what venue Romi chooses for self expression, his keen eye for detail, composition and color, leave no doubt that a true artist is continuing to unfold.