Lisa's Art News

2012-01-13T06:32:00.000-06:00

After nearly two years in the making, a new coffee table book featuring several of my paintings is finally being published. This is a real art book, not one of those fee based vanity publications that nearly all artists get solicited for. The book is due out in a couple of months but is avaiable for pre-order at Amazon. Here's the book cover:

The image in the upper center is my painting "Trumpet Diptych." Here is the publisher's synopsis of the book:

"Over 500 striking color images display the artwork of 100 contemporary painters from around the world. Their works, in oils, acrylics, and watercolors, range from very traditional pieces representing their mother countries to emerging styles that are new on the world scene. Naïve style painters resurge with a new spark, while others ventured into a more futuristic direction, mixing styles and creating completely unique and innovative canvases. No matter in which direction the artists take their work, each painting is truly exceptional and comes straight from the heart. The painters, from child prodigies to experienced veterans, are arranged alphabetically, allowing readers to view all the work of each artist together. Through this book, readers will travel the world and discover amazing contemporary artists and their important works of art. This book is a must for serious art collectors, enthusiasts, gallery owners, and artists."
To see the listing on Amazon, click here.

Here's a closer look at the cover image, "Trumpet Diptych"

"Trumpet Diptych" 36" x 48" acrylic on canvas, permanent collection, M.D.Anderson Cancer Research Hospital

2011-12-18T07:15:00.000-06:00

I dropped by Vanderbilt a few days ago to refresh my information stand with new cards and copies of the feature article done on me by American Artist Magazine several years back. I have enough spare copies that I put a stack on the podium for anyone who would like to take a copy to read. Many people spend long hours at Vanderbilt waiting while a loved one is in surgery or undergoing treatment. I know they welcome little respites from sitting in the waiting areas sometimes for many long hours. The cards have disappeared almost as fast as I put them on the table, so I hope those interested will enjoy reading the article and learning more about my inspiration and techniques for making art.


American Artist Article front page

The exhibit will remain on display until January 6 at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center Mezzanine Gallery. If you have some time over the holidays to get by and see it, please let me know.

2011-11-29T08:10:00.001-06:00

If you're looking for an "artsy" holiday gift, something modestly priced and not mass produced, my note cards just might fill the bill. These cards are based on four of my floral paintings and there's a generous 12 cards and envelopes per box. The price $19.95 per box, plus $5.95 shipping for up to three boxes. They're packed in attractive, clear topped card boxes. Please email me directly if you'd like to buy a box or more, lisa@lisaernst.com. If you'd like to purchase through Paypal, click on this link and scroll to the bottom of the page.

Assorted Note Cards by Lisa Ernst

2011-11-04T08:19:00.001-05:00

Two Saturdays ago, on October 22, I went to Radnor Lake before sunrise to take some early morning fall shots. It had rained the day before and the fog was thick over the lake, in some places visibility was minimal. The fall colors were just about perfect as the sun made its way through the fog, which added a mystical soft beauty to the views. Here are a few of the shots:

This is one of my favorites, with the saturated yellow trees against the soft blue lake

This one has a "Zen like" feel to me.

Ducks always add interest in the water shots, these three just swam into my shot!

Just enough fog here to add an element of softness and mystery.

I've loaded a full album from this foggy shoot at my Facebook page. Here's a link: Foggy Lake.

2011-10-29T10:13:00.001-05:00

Last week I delivered my recently completed "Backlit Lotus" to Vanderbilt. They hung it in a open spot with the rest of my Botanic Immersion exhibit. Here's how it looks:

"Backlit Lotus" 36" x 48" acrylic on canvas


Side view of "Botanic Immersion" exhibit at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville


View of exhibit from across the walkway

The exhibit will remain on view until January 6, 2012. If you haven't gotten by yet and live in Nashville, I hope you'll have the chance to view it. Let me know if you do! The paintings in this exhibit are available for sale directly through me, so please direct any inquiries to lisa@lisaernst.com.

2011-09-20T15:10:00.001-05:00

In early September my husband and I spent a relaxing week at Amelia Island in Florida, as we do each year. One of my favorite things to do each morning is to grab my camera and tripod just before sunrise and shoot on the beach. This year didn't bring the extreme drama and incredible colors of years past, so I had to make the best of what I had to work with. There were a few mornings that yielded some nice color and interesting cloud formations. Here are a few of my favorites:

On the home front, at Vanderbilt University's request I signed a contract to extend my exhibit, Botanic Immersion, at the VUMC art gallery though January 6, 2012. I'll be adding a new painting to the exhibit in a few weeks and will post some photos then.

2011-08-22T11:51:00.002-05:00

From Sunday's Tennessean:

Vanderbilt medical center displays bright yet restful botanicals

7:54 PM, Aug. 19, 2011

Lisa Ernst's Lotus Lake, acrylic on canvas, is on view at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. /

Nashville painter Lisa Ernst’s work is well-suited for public spaces. Her paintings are large and bright, her floral and botanical subjects are generally calming, soothing despite the vivid colors of her palette. Eight of Ernst’s paintings are displayed in Botanic Immersion in Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s Mezzanine Gallery through Sept. 30.

The best vantage point for the works is from across the open space of the lobby. Indeed, the bursts of color are visible from the circular drive out front. Up close, the paintings offer macro views of natural materials, including a pile of leaves running the full spectrum of fall colors, from red and orange to yellow and green.
Ernst’s other paintings include vibrant bunches of calla lilies the color of peaches, and a study of the veining found in the underside of leaves.

While most of the paintings in “Botanic Immersion” are full-frame images of blooms, Lotus Lake is an aquatic scene of blossoms and other vegetation along with reflection-filled water.
Ernst has been focusing on the connection between art and healing for nearly a decade, and her work is part of hospital collections in Houston and Chicago. An installation of her botanicals and abstract paintings was also featured in the Arts at the Airport program last spring.

"Callas" 36" x 48" acrylic on canvas

The Mezzanine Gallery is in the Vanderbilt University Medical Center lobby, 1211 22nd Ave. S., and is always open. For information about the gallery, call the VUMC Arts office at 615-936-1234. For directions and parking information, go to www.mc.vanderbilt.edu.
— MiChelle Jones, for The Tennessean

2011-08-13T07:44:00.003-05:00

Gabby and The Bubbles

My husband and I attended a family gathering over Memorial Day in Florida. The youngest of the group was a two year old girl, Gabriella, who was entertained much of the time by a couple of bubble machines. The two machines produced a plethora of bubbles and created some fascinating visual effects. I photographed several for the fun of it. My favorite is the one below because the center left bubble looks like someone painted a watercolor landscape in it!


Painting in a Bubble

I was so intrigued with the idea of making art from bubbles that I bought a couple of bubble machines when I got home. Finally I pulled out my camera and revved up the machines a few weeks ago. I took the photos against a light morning sky, before it turned deep blue. The result is a colorful array of bubbles, some which look almost surreal against the morning sky. These photos were not manipulated in Photoshop -- this is how the bubbles actually looked. I'm planning on doing some encaustic pieces with the bubble images.

Bubbles in Color

2011-07-22T08:06:00.002-05:00

"Backlit Lotus" 36" x 48" acrylic on canvas

This week I've finally completed my first new floral acrylic painting since last fall. This painting, "Backlit Lotus" is actually one I started a few years back but got sidetracked on some commissions and other projects. This past month I finally had a window of time to complete the painting, which is somewhat different for me. It has a nearly black background and the flowers are completely backlit, creating an unusual lighting effect. I've always loved painting and photographing lotus flowers and have painted a number of them over the last 10 years. This one is definitely the most dramatic and contemporary.

A number of my encaustic paintings are now available through the Tennessee Artisan's Market at the Renaissance Center in Dickson. If you've never been there before, its worth the trip. A truly amazing center for the arts, aptly named. In addition, my Vanderbilt University Medical Center exhibit, Botanic Immersion, has been extended through September 30, so if you haven't been by yet, there's still plenty of time. The paintings are located in the Mezzanine Gallery in the main lobby of the medical center.

2011-07-10T06:02:00.003-05:00

Lisa Ernst Exhibit at Vanderbilt Medical Center

“Botanic Immersion”

Healing Art Exhibit by Lisa Ernst
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Mezzanine Gallery through September 30, 2011

An exhibit of Lisa Ernst’s botanic paintings is on view at Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s front lobby gallery until September 30, 2011. The exhibit includes several intensely colored calla lily and lotus pieces, all done in acrylic on canvas. The focus of the exhibit is healing art, which has been a theme in much of Ernst’s art for nearly a decade.

Through this exhibit Ernst aims to express “the strength inherent in softness and softness inherent in strength. The intense colors and play of light of these paintings are designed to draw the viewer’s eye in to the heart of the flowers, to encounter them in a fresh and unexpected way. As a whole, my intent is to create a harmony of passion and equanimity, shadow and light, and an inviting respite from life’s stresses and distractions.”

Ernst’s focus on healing art began in 2002 with a commission from M.D. Anderson Cancer Research Hospital in Houston, TX. She was inspired by the opportunity to bring her passion to those who could appreciate the warm embrace of nature in an often stressful environment. Over the last nine years Ernst has been commissioned by numerous medical centers including Northwestern University Medical Center in Chicago, University of Arkansas Medical Sciences in Little Rock, and the new Middle Tennessee Medical Center in Murfreesboro.

Ernst began studying art and painting full time in the mid-1990’s. Her work has been exhibited in many group and solo exhibitions in both galleries and museums, and she has been featured in American Artist magazine, among others. Her paintings hang in corporate, public and private collections internationally, and she frequently accepts large-scale commissions. The renowned M.D. Anderson Hospital in Houston has acquired eight of Ernst’s large botanical paintings. Ernst is represented by dealers in the United States and London.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center has long been dedicated to healing art in health care. Healing Art is a growing area of focus for numerous medical centers and other health care facilities as an increasing body of scientific data has established that original art can help alleviate stress for health care providers, patients and their families.

The Vanderbilt University Hospital is located at 1211 22^nd Ave South , Nashville, TN .

For more information contact Lisa Ernst, lisa@lisaernst.com

2011-06-30T10:56:00.003-05:00

Fine Art giclees are a great alternative to original art, especially for those with more limited budgets. Although I don't advertise it often, many of my original paintings are available for sale as fine art giclees. Giclees are high quality reproductions that, when printed on stretched canvas, are virtually indistinguishable from original paintings. I recently sold two giclees from my "Calla Lily" series after an individual saw the originals at my current Vanderbilt University exhibit,"Botanic Immersion." Here are the two pieces:

"Reveal" 32" x 42" fine art giclee on stretched canvas, $875

"Calla Candy" fine art giclee, 30" x 48" on stretched canvas, $875

Here are a couple more of my pieces that are for sale as giclees. When people see these pieces in person, they express amazement that they are not original paintings!

"White Lotus" 30" x 30" fine art giclee on canvas, $500

"Overlay III, 32" x 42" fine art giclee on stretched canvas, $875

Please contact me directly at lisa@lisaernst.com for more information.

2011-05-12T05:49:00.000-05:00

My new solo exhibit, "Botanic Immersion" is now on view at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center Gallery in their main lobby. The exhibit will be on display through August 30.

Vanderbilt Medical Center and their director of cultural enrichment, Donna Glassford, have long been dedicated to healing art in health care. My own focus on healing art began nearly ten years ago with a commission from M.D. Anderson Cancer Research Hospital in Houston, TX. After that I began learning about the growing body of scientific date on the effectiveness of original art in reducing stress in patients, families and health care providers. Over the last eight years I've been commissioned and sold art to numerous medical centers including Northwestern University Medical Center in Chicago and the new Middle Tennessee Medical Center in Murfreesboro.

Please let me know if you have a chance to view the exhibit!

2011-04-21T08:41:00.001-05:00

I've begun to take my mixed media encaustic work in a little different direction with the use of textured papers and layering techniques. The new pieces got a very good response at the Temple Arts Festival. Here are several examples:

Radnor Blue Snow, 9" x 12"

Radnor Snow II, 12" x 18"


Pink Dogwoods, 9" x 12" sold

Radnor Snow I, 10" x 10" sold

I'm planning on doing several more in this style, especially focusing on the layering technique I started with "Pink Dogwoods" and perhaps going a bit larger.

2011-03-26T06:41:00.003-05:00

The Temple Arts Festival is just two weeks away, April 9 and 10, and the line up of artists looks great. Please come by and see it all, including my new mixed media work. You can attend Saturday night's Dessert Gala from 8 - 10 p.m. for a $15 entry fee, or all day Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for free. Here's another new piece that I will exhibit at the show:

Pink Dogwoods, 9" x 12", mixed media with wax and oil, sold

For more information on the Temple Arts Festival, go here.

My most recent exhibit was in New York City at the ASA Art Gallery, where my "Tall Lotus" won a prize for best floral.

2011-02-11T06:20:00.002-06:00

I'm preparing new work for the Temple Arts Festival that will be held on April 9 and 10 in Nashville. I'll be posting more information here about the show soon. My pieces will be mixed media photo encaustic with some new elements added in. Here's an example of a piece I'll be including:

"Orange Leaf" 8" x 8" Archival Print, Rice Paper, Wax and Oil

My Flying Solo Exhibit will be at the Nashville International Airport through March 6. Its at the North Ticketing Lobby by Northwest Airlines and Wright Travel.

2011-01-10T09:01:00.000-06:00

I just found out there will be another reception for the Arts at the Airport "Flying Solo" series on Wednesday January 26, 3:30 - 6:30 p.m. If you missed the first one, here's another opportunity. My installation will be up until March 6.

2010-10-27T07:04:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I met an installer at the airport who climbed a ladder to turn off the spotlights on my installation. The lights were creating a glare that prevented me from getting any acceptable photos. It was still challenging to take good photos of the installation because of the height and uneven light distribution, but I did my best. Below I'm including several images of the installation. The first one is an assembly I put together in Photoshop and is the truest in color and tone to the original. The other three are on site photos, with one of me standing in front of the installation for scale.

"Reveal," installation, acrylic on canvas, 9' x 9'

2010-10-14T06:11:00.001-05:00

After working this past month on a very tight deadline for a commission, it is finally complete and ready to ship today. This two piece commission is for M.D. Anderson Cancer Research Hospital in Houston. I'm honored that they now have eight of my paintings in their permanent collection. One of these days I'll go there and photograph the paintings onsite. Here are the two pieces:


"Red Hibiscus" 24" x 48" acrylic on canvas

"Poppies" 24" x 48, acrylic on canvas

The opening reception for my Arts at the Airport "Flying Solo" installation was fun, the curator and airport did a great job with the promotional materials as well as the overall reception. I'm hoping to get back to the airport in the next week or so to photograph the installation under correct lighting so there won't be glare. After that, I'll post the full installation here.

2010-09-22T06:17:00.000-05:00

Please join me on Wednesday, October 6 for the Arts at the Airport Flying Solo reception at Nashville International Airport. The reception hours are 4 - 6 p.m. My installation, "Reveal" is located in the North Ticketing Lobby by Wright Travel and United Airlines. If you wish to see all of the artists showing throughout the airport, you will need to RSVP by Wednesday, September 29. Full details are here:

My exhibit, "Reveal" is a seven piece, 9' x 9' installation. Here's a partial view:

2010-09-01T07:56:00.001-05:00

On Monday I delivered my paintings for the Arts at the Airport installatin, 7 pieces in all. Four are calla lilies and the other three are abstract, striped accent pieces. I'm not sure yet the exact installation date, but I do know the reception will be Wednesday, October 6 from 4 - 7. I hope to see you there. In the mean time, here is a partial image of what the installation will look like. I'm saving posting the full image for after the reception, so those interested in seeing it in person will be surprised (in a good way, I hope).The total area of the installation will be roughly 9' x 9', on the far left wall when you enter the ticketing lobby. Once its installed I'll take some photos.

2010-08-12T07:08:00.001-05:00

Yesterday I delivered my Middle Tennessee Medical Center commission to the framers. It was a challenging painting to complete because, without my knowledge, the brand of white paint I regularly use was reformulated to reduce the white pigment (a cost saver for the manufacturer but not good for the artist). It took me a while to figure out the problem -- initially I thought it was the canvas or primer that wasn't right. After getting more than halfway into the painting, an artist friend told me that her favorite brand of paint was unexpectedly reformulated to lower the quality and it had really affected her work. So I ran out to buy a different brand of white paint, and I immediately started getting better results.

"White Lilies," 40" x 60" acrylic on canvas

Now I'm getting back to the Arts at the Airport installation piece. I'm resuming work on three abstract canvases that will accent the four calla lilies.

2010-06-23T07:00:00.001-05:00

My fourth painting for the Arts at the Airport "Flying Solo" installation has been completed. This piece fills out the "Calla Lily" series to include four paintings. They will be arranged with three soft green accent canvases to create the 9' x 9' installation. Delivery date is September 13. In the mean time, I'm starting a commission for the new Middle Tennessee Medical Center.

"Tall Callas," 48" x 24" acrylic on canvas, 2010

2010-06-06T06:17:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago I got word that I've been selected to do an installation for the Flying Solo Series at the Nashville Airport, in their ticketing lobby. Until this year I never thought about having an exhibit at the airport, but I've seen so many of Nashville's prominent artists showing there that I began to think twice. Obviously, the exposure is great, and I've heard most artists who show there find it does lead to great contacts and sales long term. The installation will be about 9 ' x 9' and consist of an arrangement of calla lily paintings. I'll post an image of the planned installation as I get a little further along with it. I'll deliver the paintings on September 13.

I've begun representation by a gallery in Jackson Hole Wyoming, just in time for their main tourist season. If you're in the area, stop by Raindance Fine Art, on artist's row in downtown Jackson.

Recently I completed a few more photo encaustic pieces, both of beach sunrise scenes at Amelia Island.

"Beachrise II" Archival print, oil, encaustic, 12" x 18"

"Beachrise III" Archival print, oil, encaustic, 12" x 18"

2010-04-18T06:31:00.003-05:00

I've been working on several new photo encaustic pieces and have another beach sunrise scene ready to go. In this post, I'll share several of my new and recent pieces. The response to this new work has been encouraging.

"Radnor Mist," 11" x 14" archival print, wax, acrylic

Radnor Blue, 6" x 6" Archival print, wax, acrylic (sold)

"Lotus Diptych" 12" x 6" archival print, wax, oil pigment (sold)

"Fall Mist" 12" x 12" archival print, wax, acrylic

I'll be posting more images soon, as I complete them.

2010-04-04T06:54:00.001-05:00

My exhibit will remain up at the Marnie Sheridan Gallery until April 15, so if you haven't made it yet, there's still time. Scroll down to the previous post below to see the details.

I decided to enter a few of my new photo encaustic pieces into the CSAE National juried competition this year. Since this work is so new and different for me, its like starting again, but in a good way. Two of the pieces I entered were smaller than their minimum requirement, but "Beachrise" at 12" x 12" was large enough, and I'm pleased to say it was accepted. Here's the piece:

"Beachrise" 12" x 12", archival print, oil, encaustic

The reception will be held on May 16 at the Tennessee Art League, 808 Broadway in Nashville, 2 - 4 p.m. and the exhibit will hang until June 25.

I am currently working on several more encaustic peieces, which are a bit larger, and will post them in the next few weeks.

2010-03-16T14:19:00.012-05:00

We had a lovely reception at the Marnie Sheridan Gallery on February 28. Anne Was, the gallery director, said they had the best crowd since Paul Harmon's show there a couple of years ago. She was pleased, and so were Sue and I. A few days prior to the official opening I got a few shots of the exhibit from various angles. Without flash, I wasn't able to capture the full galllery, which is quite large and open, perfect for big paintings that need "breathing" room! Here are a few, including the first one of me at the reception:

Please note that you can click on any of the photos below to get a much enlarged view.

This last image is my new photo encaustic work. I'll be posting more images to the blog soon of this new series. I've received an encouraging response to these pieces. Now that the weather is getting warmer, I'll have more control over the wax process so I can create larger pieces. And don't forget that this exhibit will be on display until April 15! If you're in the middle Tennessee you can visit the gallery Monday - Friday 8:30 - 4:30. If you get by, do let me know what you think!

2010-02-13T07:17:00.001-06:00

If you're in the Nashville area, please join Susan McGrew and me on Sunday, February 28 for our art reception at the Marnie Sheridan Gallery. I'll be debuting several new acrylics on canvas, along with my photo encaustic pieces.

2009-11-15T06:22:00.002-06:00

Time has gotten away from me and its been far too long since I have posted here. I'm immersed in learning mixed media photography, mainly photos with encaustic (wax) and oil. Encaustic is one of the oldest forms of painting known, yet many people have never heard of it. Right now encaustic painting is enjoying a bit of a renaissance.

I've needed to explore some new creative directions for a long time, and this is the prefect chance to do it, with a show coming up in February here in Nashville. What's selling mostly right now in Nashville are smaller paintings and I will have an opportunity to show some small photo encaustic pieces -- provided I've sufficiently mastered encaustic before the show! Encaustic work is quite involved, requiring significant equipment and a steep learning curve. I've discovered that I'm drawn to encaustics with a smooth surface rather than textured, just as I prefer painting that way, glazing my acrylic paints in many layers. This is the hardest encaustic technique to master.

Here are a couple of photos I may work with in encaustic, or print on aluminum, which creates an amazing luminosity:

I'm still working on my acrylic painting from Reelfoot Lake, a 36" x 48" piece called "Lotus Pond."

2009-09-18T06:04:00.009-05:00

My husband and I just returned from eight days on the beach, and I made it my practice to witness the sun rise over the ocean every morning with my camera. This isn't as hard as it seems, since Florida is on Eastern time, and the sun doesn't rise until a little after 7 this time of year. I'm not much for sleeping in anyway.

Each day I'd be on the beach by 6:45, when it was just getting light and watch as the night turned to morning and hints of color appeared on the ocean's horizon. By observing carefully I saw that there were two times each morning when the colors were at their peak. The first time occurred before the sun was visible, casting its light upward on the clouds and sky in a way that they were often brilliantly illuminated.

Every morning was different, and the presence of scattered clouds contributed significantly to the brilliance of color from the sun's rays. This intensity would fade out a bit before the sun appeared -- slowly it would show a sliver at the horizon, often partially obscured by clouds. Then as it rose, the red/orange intensity would make itself visible. I could capture this on camera effectively as the sun wasn't yet so intense as to be blinding. Here are a few examples from my shoot. Note that you can click on these images to enlarge them.

My idea for doing mixed media pieces with photography and painting is becoming more concrete and I'll be experimenting soon. Hopefully some will be ready to show at my February exhibition here in Nashville. I'm still working on my "Lotus Lake" painting, which I should have finished within a few weeks.

2009-08-20T14:11:00.017-05:00

My 2009 trip to Reelfoot Lake, aka Lotus Lake, was a great success. I was genuinely inspired by the incredible beauty and diversity of the lotus plants in all stages of life from bud to bloom to dead curling leaves. (Yes, I think the dead and dying leaves of a lotus plant have a kind of beauty that is hard to match.) This year, my friend Maggie and I went about a week later in the season as I wanted to experience the lotus plants in a further state of decay. Of course, many were fresh and alive, but the diversity was greater after only a week. When we arrived at the lake, our fist stop was the boat dock where we began our shoot last year. However, I was taken aback to find very few lotus plants and no flowers at all. The only sign of the lotus were some pads and leaves growing up around the algae. These had their own beauty, but I had anticipated seeing flowers too. Here are a couple of representative shots from the boat dock. (Note that you can click on any of these images to enlarge them)

Next, we went to a pier just up the road that the previous year yielded some images of lotuses for as far as the eye could see. Here we found more lotus plants than at the dock, but no flowers. I did see a few scattered buds, but nothing was in bloom. We weren't quite sure what to do, so we drove to the other side of the lake and there we found a similar sight to what we had experienced last year, although the some of the plants and leaves were showing more decay. Here we did find some open lotus flowers. Here's an example:

You can see that the algae on this part of the lake was quite thick near the shore. We finally were told by one of the locals that the reason for fewer plants and blooms this year was the heavy rains, which brought the water level higher. The lotus plants couldn't sustain these levels and many of them died before they could thrive above water. The next morning we rented a boat, and headed out onto the lake, where we found enough interesting leaves and blooms to have what we both considered a successful shoot. Personally, I thought the diversity was more interesting this year, even though we never saw the "miles and miles" of lotus flowers this time around.

One of the most fun parts of our shoot was seeing and photographing a white egret that spent a lot of time near the pier fishing. Here are a couple of shots:

To see more of my Reelfoot Lake photos, visit my Picasa album by clicking here.
Now to decide on what to paint!

2009-07-06T03:55:00.015-05:00

Tomatoes and Fruit Just For Fun

Its been a couple of years since I put paintings into East Nashville's Tomato Art Festival, but I happened to have a small painting of heirloom tomatoes available this year, along with two small fruit paintings, so I decided to participate. This is an extremely popular annual event hosted by the Art and Invention Gallery, which has been very successful in East Nashville. For those of you living in the middle Tennessee area, here's a link to the Festival, which will be held on August 10: Tomato Art Festival.

Here are the three pieces I'll be putting in the show:

"Strawberries II," 12" x 16"

"Mixed Berries," 14" x 18" (above)

"Heirlooms" 18" x 12" (right)

In early August I'll be returning to Reelfoot Lake, aka (to me at least) Lotus Lake. My friend Maggie, who accompanied me last year, will be returning to Nashville so we can take the journey again. Maggie moved to New Jersey last fall to take a software development job in NYC. She's an excellent photographer so it will be fun to spend time with her on a shoot at the lake again. We're going a little later this year - I want to capture more of the decay, dropped petals and browning leaves that occur as the season gets into August. There will still be plenty of fresh lotus flowers too, as they bloom continuously into September.

Currently in the planning stages: a River Birch triptych, the largest yet at 96" x 48!" This one is especially for my upcoming show in Nashville next February at the Harpeth Hall Gallery. They have a couple of very large walls where some really big paintings are called for.

2009-06-04T06:20:00.009-05:00

Last week I spent 3 full days in New York City. It was a real whirlwind with visits to the Guggenheim, MOMA, SoHo and Chelsea districts as the art high points. This was my fourth visit to New York, and the first time I really "got to know" the subway system. In the past I would take a cab anywhere that was too far to walk, but often the traffic movement slows down to a crawl. I love to walk around cities like New York, but some distances are just too far to walk and still have time to see it all. I found subway travel to be amazingly efficient and fast, once my friend Camille and I figured it out. Not really that hard to do. We bypassed all that traffic and congestion and voila, we arrived at our destinations in no time.

Heading to MOMA, just ahead on right

The Guggenheim had a Frank Lloyd Wright exhibit and it was a good one. I'm not a giant fan of architecture, but my father was an architect and he was a fan of Wright. One of his first home designs, right here in Nashville on Otter Creek Road, was a Frank Lloyd Wright inspired home through and through. The exhibit gave me a greater appreciation of Wright and also helped me understand why contemporary style homes have always been my favorite (and what my husband and I live in now). Our next stop was MOMA, and it was truly mind boggling with so many of the great contemporary masterpieces under one roof. I really couldn't take it all in there was so much to see. We got lucky and arrived at the museum just after "free Friday" started, around 5 p.m. After that we called it a day.

We couldn't do an art tour of New York and skip SoHo, but it has really changed from the fabled art community of yore. I was in SoHo back in 1996 and even then signs of change and gentrification were setting in with the influx of various national chains like Gap, Bed Bath and Beyond, etc. This visit was a shock as the majority of art galleries I remember had either closed or moved on. The rents just got too high for most artists and galleries. One that remains is OK Harris, perhaps my favorite gallery in New York. They carry a variety of creative, provocative and beautiful art. The realist and gritty New York city street scenes were truly evocative of late nights in the "dark" part of the city. Another artist did beautiful lake scenes with dying reeds and lily pads, and clouds reflecting in the water. One piece was very minimalist and inspired me with some new ideas. The most intriguing work was by a metal artist who bends wire to create shadows on walls that look like chairs, hands, faces, etc. The amazing part was that the shadows seemed to have absolutely nothing to do with the wire.

A tony neighborhood in Central Park West

Finally on Saturday we went to Chelsea and Central Park West. In Chelsea there is a pretty solid concentration of galleries. Many were "start up"type galleries featuring artists who had not yet emerged. Others were impressive, with highly skilled and accomplished artists, the most notable being Chuck Close. There was lots of realism represented at galleries and my theory is that realism tends to come back in vogue in times of economic downturn, when people appreciate skill over the shock value of "the art of the moment." My friend Camille found several galleries she wants to submit her art to. Me, not so much right now. Our last sojourn on Saturday was two shops just outside of Central Park West, Levain Bakery and Jacques Torres. These two are famous for their cookies, and the latter for his chocolate. I had to try cookies from both. Levain has a "web cam" and I was caught devouring one of their cookies (see photo below)! Both cookies are wonderful and very different. The Levain is giant! Its crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, full of chocolate chips and walnuts. I had mine hot out of the oven. I ate the entire cookie, although I was told they are too big to eat all at once. Not for me. My favorite, though, was Jacques Torres' chocolate chip cookie, which had lots and lots of dark chocolate throughout and a wonderful, buttery taste. I will be back next time I'm in New York!

Lisa devouring a cookie at Levain Bakery. (That's Maggie texting)

2009-05-09T09:45:00.005-05:00

"Mixed Berries," 14" x 18"

I've just finished this small fruit piece; these stacked berry paintings are fun to do but really time consuming because of all the intricate detail. Maybe I should stick with apples and tomatoes. :-)

Currently I'm working on a large lotus painting, 36" x 48" with extreme backlighting and a black background. This gives it a very contemporary look. After that I'm on to a diptych inspired by my trip to "Lotus Lake" last summer. I will definitely return again this summer to the lake!

My friend Sue McGrew and I have a joint show scheduled for next February - April at the Marnie Sheridan Gallery here in town. Its at Harpeth Hall and is one of the more attractive places to show art in Nashville. Sue is an excellent landscape artist who is well known here in Nashville and she's also a nationally recognized physician specializing in autism. An impressive dual career! I think it will be a fun show and will give me a chance to try some out some new ideas, perhaps combining photography and painting.

I'll be in New York later this month -- of course I'll be checking out the galleries and museums but also indulging another passion of mine, chocolate chip cookies and desserts. New York has some of the best cookie bakers in the country and I'm looking forward to trying the legendary Levain Bakery chocolate chip cookie as well as Jaques Torres' Chocolate Mudslide Cookie. Which will be the best?

2009-03-29T10:37:00.004-05:00

I have at last finished "River Birch V." This one is large, at 4' x 5.' It took longer to complete than anticipated, its quite intricate and detailed. I'm sure I'll paint more of this subject matter, perhaps next a triptych. In the mean time, I have another small painting of strawberries to complete along with a few experimental abstract pieces. Stay tuned for more art news coming soon.

River Birch V, 4' x 5'

2009-02-06T07:16:00.003-06:00

Hello everyone, I've not posted here in a while, I've been traveling and taking a bit of a creative break. Lots of new ideas percolating and I'll be putting them to canvas in the coming months. Currently I'm working on a large, 4' x 5' River Birch painting. I really enjoy painting river birch, with all the peeling, curving bark. I also have an abstract piece coming up, a bit of an experiment. I don't have any new paintings to share at the moment, so here's a close up photo of a lotus flower from my shoot at Reelfoot Lake last summer.

2008-12-01T08:35:00.009-06:00

I've been focusing on a commission recently of a subject matter different for me. The painting is of cotton, for a medical center in Arkansas. It was a fun and interesting challenge to create a striking visual and I actually love the contrast of white against a deep blue sky. I did this color combination in one of my lotus paintings, "White Lotus with Cobalt." Here I'm including that image along with the new cotton painting. This painting will be hung with a plaque that includes its name -- I decided on "Clouds of Cotton."

"Clouds of Cotton," 48" x 60," University of Arkansas Medical Center

"White Lotus with Cobalt," 20" x 24"

Right now I'm back to some experimentation. I recently did a shoot at Radnor Lake that included some abstract veiws of the lake. I plan on starting a painting that will perhaps be the most abstract looking piece I've done so far, abstract realism, as it is often called.

2008-09-15T07:30:00.009-05:00

My Houston reception scheduled for Saturday September 13 was cancelled for obvious reasons. It was a disappointment, and I'm sad about the wide swath of destruction that Ike wrought in South Texas. It will take a while for the area to recover and I'm not sure yet whether the reception will be rescheduled. I'll probably know this week.

Right now I'm taking a creative break and experimenting. I have some ideas for combining painting and photography, but nothing concrete yet. Here are a few of the photos that have inspired me to experiment a little. These photos were taken in August at a place called Reelfoot Lake in West Tennessee. Areas of this lake are covered in lotus flowers from mid summer to early fall. It is truly a sight to see!

2008-09-05T07:25:00.003-05:00

The evite for my exhibition at Harris Gallery is ready and I'm posting it here for those who may be interested in the show. I'll be at the gallery for the reception on September 13, 6 - 8 p.m.. Harris Gallery is located in the heart of Houston's museum district at 1100 Bissonnet. I hope to see you there!

2008-08-22T06:45:00.004-05:00

Here's a new fruit painting I just completed for my upcoming show at Harris Gallery. I've always liked fruit paintings that just show the fruit, without a special arrangement, plates, etc.

"Red Raspberries," 12" x 16"

2008-08-13T08:11:00.004-05:00

I plan to post a little more frequently over the next month -- too much time has passed since I wrote anything here. First, I'm preparing for a show in Houston at Harris Gallery. The opening recpetion will be September 13, and I'll be there. If you're in the Houston area, I hope to see you! You can get more information on Harris Gallery by clicking here. I've just completed a new painting for the show, "Plumeria," 36 x 48." Plumeria flowers don't grow here in Tennessee but they do grow in areas of South Texas. I was inspired to paint plumeria after seeing them in the Carribean.

"Plumeria," 36" x 48"

Currently I am working on a small painting of raspberries and another of strawberries. I hope to have both of these completed in the next two weeks. I've also been exploring photography as an art means in itself after a trip I took to a lake in West Tennessee that was covered in lotus flowers. I'll be posting some of the photos here later this month.

2008-06-11T12:53:00.005-05:00

I just returned from a vacation in Dominica, a southern Caribbean island. It looks a lot like St Lucia, with very high mountains dropping right into the ocean. The diving and snorkeling are wonderful there and it's quite rugged and undeveloped with beautiful tropical rain forests. I saw and photographed a tropical flower called plumeria that I've only seen before in photographs. I've discovered that these flowers also grow in warmer climates in the U.S. such as South Florida and South Texas. I am planning on a plumeria painting once I get a large canvas primed. Here are a few photos I took in Dominica:

Plumeria

Earlier this week I received an email from an artist who lives in Washington D.C. who told me she's been following my work since she saw it in American Artist in 2002. She was interested in some private lessons and will be flying in to study with me for three days later this month. I am flattered! Although I don't focus on teaching regularly, I am looking forward to working with her and teaching her my layering/glazing technique. She's already accomplished enough that I think she will catch on quickly.

In August I will begin showing at a new gallery in Salt Lake City. Currently the gallery is under construction and I've been working with one of the owners, who already has some successful art related businesses in the area, with selecting several of my pieces to get started. I'll provide more information when the gallery is closer to opening. It sounds like they have some solid plans to make a splash right off!

2008-05-15T17:55:00.003-05:00

I've completed the third of my three part Calla Lily series, "Callas." This one is the largest and most complex in terms of composition. Lots of color, that's for sure! "Callas," along with "Calla Candy" will be showing at Harris Gallery in Houston.

"Callas," 36" x 48"

2008-04-08T08:27:00.003-05:00

I'm taking a break this week before getting back to my Calla Lily series. The current piece, in progress, may not be quite as "over the top" color-wise as "Calla Candy."

Here's a new painting that was sold at the Temple Show:

"Strawberries," 12" x 16"

2008-04-02T04:42:00.007-05:00

The Temple Show is this weekend and I've completed another Calla Lily piece that I'll include in the show.

"Calla Candy," 30" x 48"

I'm working on a third Calla Lily for my Houston gallery, and hope to complete it this month. This series has been fun to paint, with all the undulating shapes and intense colors.

2008-01-17T07:44:00.000-06:00

I'm in the midst of completing a corporate commission, and it's similar to a painting on my website, "White Night Flowers." I'll be shipping it out on Monday. In getting my packaging together for the shipment, I discovered a new product that I'm excited about. You might wonder how packaging products could be exciting, but bear with me. For all of you (myself included) who think Styrofoam peanuts are the scourge of the planet, there's something new that's not at all harmful for the environment. They are peanuts made of corn starch, with no petrochemicals at all and fully biodegradable. The ones I bought are actually produced by a company that also makes hot chocolate. Strange, I know, but these peanuts are also edible. Amazingly, they smell, look and even taste like Cheetos (sans the dyes, salt and flavorings). Here's what they look like:

Since I don't have any new paintings to post just yet, I'll instead show a couple of paintings that have recently been acquired for corporate and public collections. The first is "Dahlia" which is at a law office in Dallas.

"Dahlia," 29" x 33"

"Iris Triptych" was acquired for a large medical center, although I don't yet know which one:

"Iris Triptych," 36" x 60"

Once I complete my current commission, I'll return to painting new work for the Temple Show here in Nashville on April 4 and 5.

2007-12-05T05:42:00.001-06:00

My new Calla Lily series is underway now, and I've completed the first one. These paintings have a mix of feminine and masculine imagery within the shapes and forms of the calla lilies. I call the series "Reveal."

Reveal, 32" x 42," acrylic on canvas

I've also just completed an unusual perspective of a passion flower for my Houston Gallery. This one was a real challenge because of the vast amount of detail in the passion flower.

"Passion Flower," 30" x 40," acrylic/canvas

Right now I'm working on a 60" x 46" commission for a medical center, which has a deadline of mid-January, so my Calla Lily series is on hold until after the commission is completed. I plan to debut my Calla Lily series at the Temple Show in Nashville in April.

2007-10-01T16:17:00.000-05:00

As we move into fall, I am finally getting focused on replenishing my inventory, especially of florals. My first new flower painting is a white lotus, from the photo shoot I did this summer.

"White Lotus," 30" x 30"

Now I'm working on piece with an unusual perspective of calla lilies, and I've also started work on a passion flower. The passion flower is amazingly intricate, yet I'm finding it an enjoyable challenge. My new paintings will all be large, as they allow me more room for creative expression, while also selling the best.

2007-08-03T07:39:00.001-05:00

I've just completed my Northwestern University Medical Center commission and I'll be shipping the two pieces next week. These large floral commissions always take more time than I expect, mainly because of the intricacy and detail required. I'm excited about having these peices in Northwestern's public art collection; they even make nice plaques for each painting with the artist's name and birth date, as is often done in art museums.

A few weeks ago I had the good fortune of going on a photo shoot to a huge outdoor water garden store called Green and Hagstrom, just outside of Nashville. Numerous lotus flowers were blooming and I got a number of good shots. I'm loving my new digital SLR and the lenses I chose to go with it. The quality of my photos has really gone up. With my new lotus shots, I now have plenty of material to replenish my lotus/floralinventory. Here are a few examples:

I have been invited to show at the Temple Arts Festival here in Nashville again next year, and I've accepted. This year's show was a great success for me and I look forward to showing there again next year. If you're in the area, mark your calendar for April 5 & 6!

2007-05-19T17:15:00.000-05:00

It seems that summer is commission time for me, and that's definitely the case again this year. I'm getting ready to start on two 40" x 60" paintings for Northwestern University Medical Center in Chicago, which will keep me busy, along with my travels, into August. I'm honored to get this commission because Northwestern, one of the nation's top medical centers, is also recognized among a distinguished group of medical centers in the U.S. that have world class public art collections. I am excited about having two of my paintings included in this prestigious collection.

Since I don't have any recently completed paintings to post this time, I'll include a painting that's not on my website so it will be new to the readers of this blog. This painting is the first commission I did for M.D. Anderson Cancer Research Center in 2004. It's a large piece at 5' x 4' and very stylized. My photos never quite captured all the subtle shadows and lights that can be seen when viewing this piece in person, so I never posted it to my website. But maybe you'll get a good enough idea by this photo:

"Trumpets," acrylic on canvas, 5' x 4' , collection M.D. Anderson Cancer Research Hospital

2007-04-28T09:21:00.000-05:00

The Temple Art Show is a couple of weeks behind me now. It was a successful event and I'm very pleased with the results. The reception to my more experimental "River Birch" series was strong and I now have some ideas for taking this series further.

I just got a new Canon close up lens and I'm excited about getting some abstract botanical and floral shots to use as inspiration for new paintings. I'm also going to paint a few lotus flowers this year, something I haven't done in several years. My inventory of lotus paintings has long sold out and my inspiration for painting them has returned along with a few ideas for an unusual presentation using multiple canvases in varying sizes. You'll see them here first.

I've just completed a couple of new pieces which will be going to my Houston Gallery, shown here:

"Poppy Diptych," 36" x 48"

"Fuschia," 28" x 18" acrylic/canvas

2007-02-15T10:49:00.000-06:00

I can't believe it's almost March and I haven't posted to this blog since November. In January I finished a complete redesign of my website, which was long overdue. Since then I've been working on some new paintings but most are still in progress. One piece I've just completed is "Blueberries." It's small at 11" x 14."

Sold

I'm happy to announce that the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston has aquired another painting of mine, "Summer Petunias." This brings to five the number of my paintings they now have in their collection. I'm honored, as always.

sold

Summer Petunias, 30" x 40"

Currently I'm working on a 3' x 4' diptych of poppies, which I'll post here when I'm done. My next Nashville exhibition will be at the Temple Art Show, April 14 and 15. This is a wonderful event and if you're in the Middle Tennessee area, I hope to see you there.

2006-11-11T07:36:00.000-06:00

As promised, here are the four commissioned paintings I did for the lobby of a north Texas hospital. All are 4' x 3' in acrylic on canvas:

Now that this commission is complete, I am taking a little time off from painting. I have two new art students coming next week for their first lesson. I don't teach painting regularly, but I do like to teach one or two serious students a year, in private lessons, because it's so rewarding to help people develop their painting skills. The new students are friends and they asked to take lessons with me together, which I think will be fun. There's an interesting story related to one of the new students. Once we began communicating about lessons she realized she owned one of my paintings, which I had never signed. It's a piece I created when I was studying with my teacher, Bunn Gray, over a decade ago. I left several paintings at his house for him to hang. After he died in 2002, one of his other students told me I needed to pick up my paintings. I kept putting it off, and then (although I didn't know it) all my paintings were included in Bunn's estate sale. My new student happened to attend that estate sale and bought one! It's a large, 3' x 4' white Clematis, which she has in her dining room. She told me she decorated the room around the painting because she likes it so much. I was flattered to hear this -- all artists love to know a person will decorate around a painting rather than simply selecting a painting to match the decor. Although I neglected to claim my paintings, resluting in my losing any income from them, I am happy to know someone is enjoying one of pieces so much.

2006-09-27T06:45:00.000-05:00

Lot's going on here, I'm still hard at work on my four painting hospital commission, plus I'm working on a few other projects as well. It looks like "Two Yellow Blooms" (shown above) will be made into a book cover. I'll give more details when I have the information. The original painting is 22" x 28" and is available for sale at Harris Gallery in Houston.

I've begun working with a company in Califorina that sells into the corporate and health care markets. They have just purchased two pieces for a corporate placement in Southern California. My second "abstract leaves" painting (in progress) is on hold until I complete my current projects. Locally, three of my originals plus a giclee will be featured in a show home at Annandale during the Parade of Homes starting October 14. They've chosen "Fall Leaves," "River Birch III" and "Parthenon I" for the home, plus a"Tall Lotus" giclee. You can see River Birch III by scrolling down to my May post. Parthenon I and Tall Lotus are on my website. (I'll be updating my website soon with additional new work. ) I went by the home to see how everything looked (I've never toured a show home before) and it was fabulous, really too much to take in with just one visit. It was built and designed by a local company, Castle Contractors. I photographed one of my paintings, Fall Leaves, in its setting for the show, which I've posted here.

2006-08-26T07:22:00.000-05:00

This is my newest floral painting, Summer Petunias. It's 30" x 40" and can be seen at Harris Gallery in Houston.

I'm still seeing petunias blooming profusely around town, but I can feel fall on its way, especially in the mornings. My fall painting schedule is pretty full -- today I'm starting a new commission of four 4' x 3' floral paintings for the lobby of a hospital in North Texas. I always feel honored to create art for hospitals because I truly believe art can transform environments and enhance healing. When the commission is complete in late October or early November, I'll post images of the pieces here.

I have been invited to participate in the Temple Art Show in Nashville next April and I've accepted. This show, in my opinion, is the best of its kind. Last year I called all my artist friends and urged them to see the show, as I'd never seen anything comparable in Nashville. The show will be open to the public on April 14 and 15 at the Temple on Harding Road in Nashville. I plan to paint a few new florals since this is a spring show. I should have additional exhibitions to announce soon as I am focusing on getting a few lined up for 2007 and beyond.

2006-06-13T05:52:00.000-05:00

This is the season when flowers are blooming everywhere, and my interest as florals as a subject for painting is stimulated. One of my favorite flowers is the Trumpet. They grow "upside down" in clusters that can number in the hundreds on a mature plant. I've painted several versions, and I'm honored to say that M.D. Anderson Cancer Research Hospital in Houston is aquiring my "Trumpet Diptych" (shown above). This is a 3' x 4' painting. It will accompany three other large pieces of mine that M.D. Anderson owns.

Currently I'm working on a colorful garden scene, and I've just finished the first of my abstract fall leaves series. The one shown below is "Fall Leaves I" (ok, I know I'm not too creative with the names of my paintings LOL). The size of this piece is 24" x 36,"

I've just begun representation by a new gallery in Shreveport Louisiana, Amy Baber Fine Art. The gallery owner and director are both from Memphis and bring an impressive background in art sales to their new venue. They have solid connections and have already assembled a strong group of artists. They have a wonderful location on Line Avenue. Here's a painting of mine that can be see at their gallery. It's called "Tomato Stack" and it's 12" x 35."

2006-05-04T08:34:00.000-05:00

I've been remiss in offering news updates on my website -- this will be an easy way for me to do it more consistently. So the first news is that I will finally offer news!

This year I'm getting more focused on painting again, after being so busy last year with a home construction project that I did less than usual, art-wise. Currently I'm working on an asbstact painting of fall leaves. Very different for me. I'll post a photo when I'm done. Recently, I finished my three piece River Birch series, also quite different for me.

This is the one I like best, River Birch III. It's large, at 3' x 5.'

Sold

The painting below is a tryptych of azaleas I did for a hospital on the East coast. I completed this in March.

Lately people have been asking me when I will do another exhibition. I haven't scheduled anything yet, but I'm focused on finding the right venue for another solo exibition. To see my work outside of Nashville, visit Harris Gallery in Houston, Fogle Fine Art in Jacksonville and Barrie Holt Gallery in New Orleans. I recently began working with a dealer in London as well.
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