Thursday, August 31, 2017

Prelude to the Sweetness of Reunion: The 5th Work in the Finding Faith Series

Prelude to the Sweetness of Reunion
oil on canvas
30 x 24 inch






Prelude to the Sweetness of Reunion
video (click to play)

 I have finally finished with the 5th project in my Finding Faith series and this one was near and dear to my heart.  Prelude to the Sweetness of Reunion is about that tender time just before the arrival of a loved one or loved ones you have been separated from for a while.  I know many can relate to this story.  As a child, I was separated from my family and those days of anticipating the arrival of my siblings in Kansas are pretty special.  I remember my mother busily cleaning house and getting things just right for company.  And now that I am older and my sons live in other states, well...that sweet reunion is always a joy...right down to baking the muffins.  :)

I think Katie did such an amazing job in this.  She is so patient during the shoots and her sweet demeanor was perfect for this story.  Thank you Miss Katie!  And a huge thank you goes to my long time friends Kathy and Jerry who let me use their beautiful home for the shoot.  It was just the right setting.

I am keeping all the works in this series in one place and they can be found in the Finding Faith tab at the top of the blog if you wish to view the others.

Take care...until next time...

♥ Lisa

Monday, June 26, 2017

Little Interiors

Little Blue Kitchen
oil on canvas panel 4 x 6 inch
available here

These small interior paintings were done a few weeks ago and I really enjoyed the challenge of getting all the details in such small spaces.  There is something about tiny interiors paintings that remind me of doll houses filled with tiny furnishings.  I never had a doll house as a child, but I was always fascinated by them when I did see them.

Glow Desk
oil on canvas panel 4 x 6 inch
available here
My fifth painting in the Finding Faith series is underway and going well.  Slow, but well.  As usual, the nice weather, family time, and work is where I am spending my time these days.

Until next time!

♥ Lisa

Friday, June 2, 2017

His and Her Space and a Little About the Next Work in the Faith Project

His and Her Space
oil on canvas panel 4 x 6 inch

In preparation for the next painting in my Finding Faith series, it seemed like a good idea to get out the oils again.  Interior spaces has been the thing and I have completed three very small 4 x 6 inch paintings.  I love the challenge of putting a lot of detail on such a small canvas.  I will share the other two paintings when they are dry.  

Katie and I will be filming the next video this Sunday and I am so excited to be back on this project again.  The other day as I was out on my daily walk, I went through the scenario step by step, trying to organize the video in my mind.  Once I got home, I sat down and jotted down all my ideas with all the variations I could try if any one particular scene didn't work out.  I have to make sure I don't forget anything on the days we shoot the video and photographs, otherwise I would have to call Katie back and try to recreate "the look" we had previously.

The other challenge is actually coming up with stories that flow in a short amount of time and that actually make sense.  I want to keep them simple, but interesting enough to hold attention for 3-5 minutes.  It is not easy to do.

This is the dress for the next project.  I can't wait to paint the patterns on it.


See you soon!
♥ Lisa

Thursday, May 25, 2017

Mother's Teapot: The Sketch and the Story That Goes With It.





When I was young, I was playing dodge ball with another young family member inside the house. We were playing near my mother's hutch where she kept her collection of pretty things...breakable pretty things like China plates, her large collection of salt and pepper shakers, and a couple of tea pots. And during one of the throws (our "ball" was a waded piece of paper) my playmate backed violently into the hutch causing the whole thing to tip over. The crash was so tremendous, I'm sure my mother thought that someone had died when she heard the noise, which seemed to last forever.

My playmate and I stood there wide-eyed and aghast over what we had done, waiting for my mother to come flying downstairs screaming "what happened!!!!?" which she did. Needless to say, she was very upset. Nearly everything was broken.

As punishment for about a week after school she made me sit at the dining table and glue her broken collection back together. I successfully reconstructed only a few, many were broken beyond repair, and I would forever have to face my guilt every time I looked at salt and pepper shakers without a match.

This teapot was a survivor on that dreadful day, and I keep it in my kitchen, high on a shelf out of harms way. I was thinking about this memory very recently and thought it was time to paint my mother's pretty pot. It was a favorite of mine and I remember handling it often as a young child admiring it, carefully lifting the lid and placing it back again. There was something about the shape and the flowers that drew me and still does.🌿🌼🌱🌿

Monday, May 22, 2017

Studio Clip: Finishing Touches on a House Sketch


I made another studio clips video. I enjoy making them and they are great practice for the Finding Faith project I've been working on for over a year now! Hard to believe! Getting ready for the 5th work in the project. We have a story, a model, a dress and a location....now we just need a date!

Monday, May 15, 2017

Sketchbook Work and Inspiration

sketchbook work in acrylic
inspired by front porches in Riverside

I have been working in my sketchbooks and lately I am loving houses and noticing especially front porches.  I have seen some lovely spaces that are so inviting.  You just want to take your cup of coffee and book and sit for a spell.

I also am working with vintage photos again and the photo below is a composition using three different photographs as inspiration.

I also have the 5th Finding Faith work planned out. Katie and I just need to work out a convenient time we can do the filming and photo shoot.  Her dress is so pretty.  I can't wait to paint it.  Stay tuned.

sketchbook work - acrylic and watercolor
inspired by vintage photos

See you soon.

♥ Lisa

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Studio Tour 2017


Last week I spent two days painting and reorganizing my home studio.  Here's a peek of the space. Would you believe  I have not done one thing in it yet...not one painting, not one drawing.  What is wrong with me?  It MUST be the Spring weather, because I am outside a lot.

I have also been watching an art history documentary on iTunes.  It is a timeline with very short snippets on the different periods of art and it is so interesting.  Did you know that Degas' bronze dancer sculptures were not cast until after his death?  I didn't.

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Woman and Dog in Provence

Woman and Dog in Provence
acrylic on canvas 11 x 14 inch

It took quite a while to finish this painting.  It is another scene inspired from my recent travels to Europe.  I think the reason it took so long to complete is because each time I worked on it, it was a little bit like getting to revisit southern France.  I am so thankful for the memories of such a beautiful place, I guess I didn't want it to end.

Spring has sprung here in Kansas.  I can often tell not only by the evidence of the blooming flowers and singing birds, but by my color palette when I paint.  I don't paint as much when the weather is nice.  I would rather be outside finding things to do in the yard or just walking along the river in our neighborhood.  Today is sunny, windy and very quiet.  The trees sound a little bit like the ocean.

Off I go to enjoy it.  I hope you are having great weather wherever you live.  Take care.

♥ Lisa

Thursday, April 6, 2017

Arles House 24 and Traveling to Europe


Arles House 24
acrylic on board 6 x 8 inch
purchase
While on a double date with our good friends last year, we were invited to join them on a high school group tour to France and Spain.  They have gone on these European trips for several years now, both as parents and chaperones, and they said there was always room for extras in the group and that we should consider joining them this time. We could attend as guests rather than chaperones, and the price would include airfare, hotels, two meals a day and most of the activities.  On the itinerary was PARIS, the LOUVRE, and the PICASSO MUSEUM.  Say no more.  I'm in! My husband was just as excited about the itinerary as I was, so we set up our payment plan and paid on the trip all year, paying it off just before departure day.

Our tour was ten days long and time was spread thinly in Paris, Provence and Barcelona, however we were able to see so much.  The Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, Versailles, and the Louvre were all covered in 2 1/2 days, mixed in with a bus tour of the city.  Our favorite activity was just being there and walking around taking in the all the beautiful architecture.

Provence was my favorite by far, slower and quieter than Paris,  and this is my little Arles-inspired piece.  It was a tiny house I noticed while walking in the historic area.  Arles is where Van Gogh was hospitalized for a year, producing over 300 paintings and drawings in that period of time.

home in Arles

We also visited the city of Avignon, as well as Pont du Gard and Carrcassone before ending our time in the incredible city of Barcelona.  When we got home, friends and family were eager to hear about our trip, so I spent time combing through pictures to post on Facebook, writing detailed descriptions of all that we saw.  It took a lot of time to do, but it was time well spent because it helped me absorb more of all that we saw on our journey.  I am so inspired now,  not just to paint, but to visit some wonderful museums and towns close to home.  The world is a wonderful beautiful place.

I hope you are well and thank you for visiting!
♥Lisa

Saturday, March 4, 2017

Room With Rabbits and Hares

Room With Rabbits and Hares
mixed media on panel 6 x 8 inch

In the last post I showed a picture of a small painting in progress that I was working outside on a beautiful day, and this is the finished piece. A long time ago I took photos of rabbits at the Kansas State Fair with the intention of painting them, but never did.  That is until now.  There are rabbits in every decor store you walk into right now and that is what prompted this painting..the fun bunny decor and the memory of all the rabbits at the fair.  Hundreds of them!

 We have had many beautiful days lately, which is wonderful.  The downside is that I don't get a lot of painting done when the weather is nice.  I find it difficult to be still.  Does anyone else have that problem?  

I am also experiencing some form of artist's block.  To combat this, I have been revisiting old paintings as well as some old photographs.  For some reason this helps me resist feeling blah about my block.  I know it happens to every artist, so I am just trying to roll with it. What do you do when you need to get your creativity flowing again?

It has been great to see so many of you on Facebook and Instagram.  If you are new on those sites, please come find me... search for lisagrahamart.  I would love to see you there.

Until next time...

♥ Lisa

Sunday, February 12, 2017

Interiors, Exteriors, and Around Here Lately

Room With Feather Pictures
mixed media on panel 6 x 8 inch
Sold


Interiors and exteriors have been my favorite subject to sketch and paint lately.  The interior paintings are a playground for composition and color.  The house paintings have challenged my skill at painting materials such as brick and wood in my usual style.


Brick House
oil on panel


Old Green House
oil on panel 6 x 8 inch
sold


On my daily walks I have been enjoying the quiet of winter.  It is full of fresh air and calmness, with inspiration everywhere.




I also recently flew to Rochester, New York to visit family.  There was snow on the ground, which was exciting because Kansas rarely gets snow.  





I love snow...


 But I also loves days like we had yesterday.  It was 68 degrees in February!  I painted on the patio all afternoon. 



I have been so inspired lately...to paint, to photograph and to listen to music.  I will close with sharing THIS surprising, beautiful, and powerful rendition of Simon and Garfunkel's The Sound of Silence. 

What is inspiring you lately?

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

They Have Come to Bring Us Spring

They Have Come to Bring Us Spring
oil on 30 x 24 inch canvas
available here
Hello friends, and Happy New Year!  It has been a while!  A busy life keeps me away from blogging these days.   However, we can connect on Facebook and Instagram if you are there too.  Sometimes I miss the lazy days of blogging and reading blogs, but then life was going at a different pace then.

This painting began last fall and was finished a couple of weeks ago.  Long ago my mother in-law and father in-law happily dropped off this large canvas they had found at a garage sale.  It had a painting of a teddy bear on it with a blue blue background.  They asked if I could use it for my art, and I said of course!  

When finally getting around to painting on it, all I knew was I wanted to paint multiple figures wearing green dresses.  So it began with one figure in the middle-ish area and went forward from there.  There were six women originally, but it looked unbalanced.  Adding the seventh figure on the far right seemed to correct it.

The wooded scene evolved from there becoming obvious to me that the dresses represented the green that was to come on the trees.  
One serendipitous quality of this piece is that the figures and trees sort of glow in a dark room.

Here are some close-ups.  You can see the lines of texture from the underpainting.




Until next time!
♥ Lisa

PS:  I have created a site for The Finding Faith series.  The tab at the top of my blog will link you there.  This will be where you can view all the paintings, photographs and videos in the entire series.