Dick LaBonté was born in 1921 in Battle Creek, Mich., and grew up in Wilmette, Ill. His writing and artistic skills were honed at New Trier High School and Colgate University. During World War II, he served in the US Navy as commanding officer of a submarine chaser in the South Pacific.

Mr. LaBonté's postwar business career included 28 years with the McGraw-Hill Publishing Company in New York, where he held several managerial positions, among them Director of Sales Promotion of Business Week Magazine.

Seeking a different outlet for his creative skills, Mr. LaBonté took early retirement in the 1970's and began a second career as an artist. Using a neo-primitive style, he focused on nostalgic paintings of the New Jersey Shore. Limited edition prints of his work were an instant success, and distribution quickly spread along the east coast from Cape Cod to Florida.

Actually, Dick LaBonté's best-known painting is not a seashore scene but a fantasy entitled, "Cocktails at the White House". Depicting a gathering of all the Presidents and First Ladies, it was painted in 1984. New Presidents are added as they take office. The print is in its fifth edition, with President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama added to the painting. Continuing in the same venue, "At the Garden of Allah" depicts favorite Hollywood actors and actresses of the 1930's and 1940's gathered at party, dressed in costumes from their well-known movies.

Available at most bookstores is "Dick LaBonté: Paintings of the Jersey Shore and More", published by Jersey Shore Publications. This wonderful coffee table book includes over 160 images of paintings by Dick LaBonté, with comments about each painting written by the artist.

Recently selected to be listed in Who'sWho in American Art, Dick LaBonté lives in Bay Head, New Jersey with his wife, Katie. His daughter owns and operates the Anchor & Palette Art Gallery, the main source of his paintings and prints.

	Excerpt from "At the Shore with Dick LaBonté"
	LaBonté Original Auction Results
	LaBonté Prints Catalogue
	Return to Anchor & Palette Gallery