Across the Great Divide

Just back from a week's vacation in Colorado -- which promises to provide fodder for more upcoming blog posts -- and was so inspired by the landscape east of the Rockies that I couldn't wait to get back into the studio and try my hand at a landscape in pastel. Actually, that's not entirely true. Part of me couldn't wait, but another part of me was really quite afraid to take this on. Luckily, the muse is pushy and will not shut up, so today I gave it a try.

I'm working at staying looser in my style and not worrying so much about each specific rock and tree. Many years ago, at the Georgia O'Keefe museum in Santa Fe, I saw an exhibit of her landscape paintings of the area displayed next to photos of the actual landscape. It was eye opening and inspiring to see how she both captured and transformed the landscape in her paintings. I've never forgotten it.

While working on this piece today of Garden of the Gods, I just kept asking myself, what would Georgia do?

Saturday Morning Revisited

Pastel on paper

One of these days...

About an hour and a half into the four-hour drive between my home and my Dad's is the Milk Farm sign. It's classic. It's iconic. It's old school. It's totally cool. And every time I drive by I say, "One of these days I'm going to stop and get some photos of that sign. I love that sign." One of these days...

Seize the day. The cow will thank you.

The What I Love Series #7: Street murals and graffiti art

It's been a while since my last What I Love post. I love graffiti art and street murals. I love the colors, the techniques used, the total artistic commitment they require. Truly inspiring.

Lizard Humor

Folks who know me well know I've been talking a lot about Coyote lately. So much so that he really rates his own post - but that will come later. (Yes, yes, let's keep Coyote waiting and see what happens... wanna play with fire anyone?) We think of Coyote as the trickster and the funny guy - but my personal experiences have shown me many animal teachers have a sense of humor. I know a few ravens and magpies who've enjoyed endless amusement at my expense. I laugh and like to think I'm in on the joke which, no doubt, makes them laugh harder.

I was a little surprised, however, to discover Lizard's sense of humor. I had always thought of the dreamtime as a sort of serious sacred place you shouldn't poke fun at. While working on this piece in my studio, Lizard begged to differ. And I love him for it!

Art Show

It's All About the Love: The What I Love Series #1

Yeowzas - it's been a while since I posted. Winter was tough - but Spring is here and I'm starting a new series of posts about Love. Specifically, what I love. And for the first post of this series I'm featuring a piece I did last summer, in tribute to the passing of my cat, Rocky, entitled, It's All About the Love. Nuff said.

This is a small piece, approximately 4" across and hangs from a black cord. Here's a close up.

Inspiration

Clarion Alley in San Francisco is a place to be walked with reverance and awe--and a certain amount of defiance when having to step aside for the occasional car driving through. (Don't they know there's art here?) Being a person who struggles with very linear tendencies--both in life and in art--I found inspiration in the murals and graffiti art on this alley. Form and shape first above all else.

Coyote Road - the video!

The video is here! Check out the transformation process of the hubcap for the Landfillart project. Click below to watch or you can go directly to YouTube.

Draw a Bird Day!

It's like they created a day just for me! That's right, April 8 is Draw a Bird Day. Otherwise known as, A Good Reason for Lisa to Share her Pen and Inks with the World Day - you decide.

What's a day without crows anyway?

Why 200 Words for Snow?

There's a common, if incorrect, expression about the Eskimos having hundreds of different words for snow. What it means here, in this context, is that there are not enough words in our language to describe two very important things to me.

One is love. I'm talking universal, heart-centered love. The love that connects us to everything. There just aren't the right words in our language to adequately describe it without sounding like you're quoting a Beatles song.

The other is art. Or at least my art. And that's mostly what this blog is about. If I do my job right it is my hope my art will touch a place in people where it can't easily be articulated. After all, that's where it comes from in me. Maybe it's the same place that love I talk about comes from -- who knows. The point is, I think when art truly moves someone, often there just aren't the right words to describe what it touches or why. And -- I think that's good. I'm OK with that.

I'm also OK with my art affecting the viewer differently than where it comes from in me. In other words -- there are no wrong answers. Most of my pieces have pretty specific meanings to me and come from a very personal place. But you are not required to figure that out. It's not a test.

By the way, the whole, words for snow thing is an urban myth. You can learn more about this by checking out the link on Wikipedia. It's pretty interesting -- but it's really intended as symbolism here, that's all.

So welcome to 200 Words for Snow. The purpose here is mostly to share my art and my artistic journey. To that note, the last thing I want to do is spend all my spare time sitting in front of a computer -- I'd rather be in my studio taking that next scary step on this path -- so I will post when there's something new to share or see. Be patient. Be nice. If you can't say something nice, find another word for snow.

Kisses!