My maiden name is Maria Aldona Bieniulis and I grew up in Hamburg, NY, graduated from Frontier Central High School and from SUC at Brockport.  I have been married to Carmen Laurendi since 1973 and together we raised 6 kids on Grand Island.

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It wasn't till 2011 that I seriously started painting.  I am going to Partners In Art in North Tonawanda for classes and have been loving it ever since.  My instructors include Joan Horn (owner of Partners In Art), Jody Ziehm (national award wining water colorist), Karen Foegen (portrait artist), Hongnian Zhang (internationally known artist), Lois Woolley (portrait artist), Thomas Kegler (well known, award winning landscape artist), Fontini Galances (figure drawing), and Jane Stoddard (national award winning water colorist)  all very accomplished, excellent artists and excellent instructors.  I also had the opportunity to do workshops with Casey Baugh and Ylli Haruni.

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I won several awards at the Riverwalk Art Show and a 3rd place ribbon at the 2017 Lewiston Art Festival.  

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I love creating a painting that not only brings your eyes into the painting but puts a smile on your face.  My goal is to help as many people as possible to  have at least one unique piece of artwork on their walls that draws attention and ignites a conversation! 

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