Luke J. Tornatzky was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1954. He attended the Cooper School art in Cleveland, and earned his B.F.A. from the School of Design, Art and Architecture in Cincinnati, Oiho. His work as a fine artist of art, prints and posters tends to draw upon his experience as an illustrator, and his love for the impressionistic painters who brought their style to the forefront of art beginning in the late 1800's.
He says "After about twenty years working almost exclusively in pastel, I have been seduced by the lush wet quality of oil paint. It is refreshing to be out from behind the glass.” The goal of his work is to create a space, which the viewer would want to enter; and once there, forget about the painting and become lost in the feelings that the art, prints and posters evoke.
Tornatzky has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions, and won numerous awards as well. His art, prints and posters has been published as posters for Pike Place Market in Seattle, the Center for Wooden Boats, the Whidbey Island Race Week, and has appeared as cover art in numerous magazines.