REVELATORART 2010: a year in the life of a warrior painter

Hey there you! Grab a cup of coffee or a cup of tea or hot cocoa, find a comfy spot to sit & relax, and dive into this 2010 “coffee talk with Lisa”...it’s a recap of my year and a chance to catch up with what I’ve been doing. The blue caterpillar in “Alice In Wonderland” asks Alice “who are you?” I’ve taken this question to heart. This has been a year of working hard on inner issues & gaining back my “muchness”. Actively seeking wisdom & healing, I’m stepping out in understanding with boldness into WHO I AM as an artist, as a business owner, as a mentor, as a teacher, as a minister, as a worshipper, as an intercessor, as a missionary, as a leader, and as a friend. I’m continuing on my heart journey, diving deep, facing my “impossible things”, & I’m ready to “slay” for the Kingdom! In creative response: The painting to the right is my first ever self portrait. It’s called “Warrior Painter”. This is who I am and this is who I’ll be. This is my story. -Lisa

MENTORING
I’ve had the wonderful privilege this year to meet one on one with a few young female artists on a regular basis for the sole purpose of mentoring them creatively and spiritually. It’s a humbling position to be in and it has kept me on my knees as I have recognized how we all influence each other.

BACKDROPS
Over the past few years VineArts has created 4 backdrops for the sanctuary stage at Vineyard Boise. The backdrops coincide with the sermon series taught by the pastors of the church. Several artists are involved in the designing, construction, and painting of each backdrop. I’ve had the fun opportunity to be a part of each project. I’ve also occasionally been able to join the worship team on Sunday mornings to add to & enhance a backdrop by painting during worship. This year we finished the Paul’s Prison Epistles backdrop and revealed the Kingdom Deep & Wide backdrop. The backdrops have become a creative teaching tool. To see photos and read more about these backdrops you can find related posts here on this blog.

EXHIBITS
When I counted up the number of Art Shows I’ve displayed my work in this year I realized that I’ve had the chance to be a part of some amazing exhibits! I’ve been in 4 themed/juried VineArts Gallery exhibits “Abundant Joy”, “Doin’ The Stuff”, “Embracing Glory”, and “A New Name”...each show running 2.5 months. I’ve had 2 solo art shows at LUX Fashion Lounge downtown Boise (June, December). I’ve had a large mural piece displayed in the National traveling art exhibit “Liberty Rising 2010” (Sept-Oct). And I’ve had that same large mural piece as part of an exhibit at Woman of Steel Gallery in Boise (Nov-Dec). And I had a couple of paintings displayed in the Western Idaho State Fair Juried Fine Arts Exhibit. To see photos and short videos taken of these exhibits you can find related posts here on this blog.

WORKSHOPS
I like teaching art. Mostly I like teaching one on one lessons in my studio. But occasionally I like to teach a workshop to a small group of people. In August I taught a Splatter Painting Workshop through VineArts.3 hours of allowing artists to let the paint fly & learn how to be free within themselves. At the end of the workshop the group created a large Jackson Pollock like painting together. Being part of the VineArts Leadership Team, I also helped facilitate a Creativity & The Holy Spirit Workshop taught by author/producer J. Scott McElroy in November when he came to visit VineArts. The focus was listening to God’s voice as we create (allowing a partnership in creativity). To see photos and read more about these workshops you can find posts related to these events on this blog.

TEXAS
In March I flew to San Antonio with Jessie Nilo(the Founder&Director of VineArts)for a specialized retreat held at Laity Lodge.The retreat was specifically for Pastors&Ministers to Artists with the focus on mentoring artists within the Church.This included authors(David Taylor),poets(Luci Shaw),producers(Charlie Peacock),musicians(Miriam Carr,The Welcome Wagon),artists(Phaedra Taylor)&missions organizations(ArtsLink).It was wonderful to connect with people from around the world who all had the same love for art&artists as we did.And yet,we found that VineArts is quite unique in how we implement that love through ministering with artists in our community on a daily basis. To see photos and read up on the trip go to: www.traveling-artist.blogspot.com

ECUADOR
In June I traveled to the capitol city of Quito with 4 other artists from VineArts to do an art & missions trip serving at Iglesia La Vina (The Vineyard Church in Quito). We helped create 3 room murals & a stairwell mural, 3 large wall logos, a sanctuary stage backdrop mural, and facilitate an art & worship service with 4 artistic banners...all with the help of the people of La Vina. We were also joined by 5 SOBA students & 8 Mission Medics from Vineyard Boise on their world outreach trips. We had the chance to sight see at the Equator, a volcano, and a beautiful waterfall. This was my first trip to South America. To view photos & read up on the trip go to: www.traveling-artist.blogspot.com

CALIFORNIA
In July I made a road trip to Redding with my artist friend Alyee.It had been 11yrs since I’d been amidst palm trees&even longer since I’d walked along California beaches.We visited Bethel Church which has a thriving music/art/healing ministry that is known worldwide.I had the opportunity to eat my first In-N-Out burger&shop at Trader Joes&have coffee with friends who had just moved there from Scotland.It was a funfilled trip that gave me a new perspective&refreshed my heart in ways I’m still processing.

PAINTING LIVE
I absolutely LOVE painting live! There is something completely exhilarating to my heart & soul as I create art (to music) in front of live audiences during concerts, art events, or worship services. I enjoy the live experience of painting. I love to allow the Holy Spirit, the music and the paint to work together with me in creating a message for all to see. The fun for me doesn’t stop there! Afterwards, I get to enjoy conversing with people as they share with me how they were impacted by watching me paint & by what I painted. This is really why I do what I do...to allow the art to speak to others in ways I could never do by just talking. I was asked to paint live during an evening worship service at Vineyard Boise in May where I created a painting that transformed with each song sung. I had the privilege to create a 16 foot mural live to music at an art event for the public at The Woman of Steel Gallery in Boise in August. And I was one of the featured artists who created live on-site during the VineArts Gala in November. To read more you can find posts here on this blog related to these events.

ART EVENTS
Some of the most fulfilling things I get to be involved with are special art events that VineArts facilitates. This year was our 4th biennial Art Gala held in November. Themed “Creating Culture”, it was a semi-formal night of live music, dance & poetry performance, artists creating on-site, art workshops & special talks given by author/producer J. Scott McElroy & metal sculptor/gallery owner Irene Deely. I had the enjoyment of being one of the featured artists to paint live during the event. We also facilitated an Art & Worship event in November at a local university. Our VineArts leadership team designed, constructed, & prepped 3 large canvases for over 60 students to paint on side by side. These kinds of events are such fun ways of being able to see how art impacts the hearts of so many. To see photos and read more about these events you can find posts here on this blog or go to: www.vineartsboise.org

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Dive deep and keep creating!!!

Winter Art Show Downtown Boise

During the month of December 2010 I have a solo art show taking place at LUX Fashion Lounge downtown Boise. This is my second show featured at LUX this year. I had a show during the summer in June when the sun was out, the pavement was hot, and people were downtown in shorts and sandals. This time the streets are covered in snow, the trees & buildings are decked out with colorful lights, and people are bundled up to stay warm.

I have new art being displayed. Keeping with my abstract expressionist style...I took simple themes and explored different ways to speak emotion. Some of the paintings were created on unstretched canvas, other paintings were created on sheets of cardboard (I was inspired by Idaho artist James Castle who utilized objects around him (things like cardboard, food boxes, matchbooks, and other printed materials as his canvas; soot and spit for his paint; and string to bind things together).

I used black metal clips and wire strung across the top as an edgy way to hang. This allows for the viewer to focus on the art & hanging materials as one piece. No traditional frame required. The 3 large paintings that I created on cardboard were originally a 3 piece series that I did in my art studio. The series is titled "Have Your Way" with "Fill Me Up" placed on the left, "Sing Over Me" placed in the middle, and "Rain Down On Me" placed on the right. I think that each painting can actually stand alone though, so I hung them away from each other.

There are a few paintings (the tree in this photo & the trees & the corn field in an above photo) that I did as studies from Van Gogh while at Open Studio in the VineArts Studio. He has been such an inspiration to me throughout my art career. I've spent a lot of time studying his work, his techniques, his philosophy, his life. Many of my impressionistic oil landscapes were influenced by his paintings. Currently though...I've been taking some of his paintings and creating similiar ones...but with my own RevelatorArt abstract expressionist twist. The 3 paintings here are layered acrylic paint with splatter techniques.

I did have one painting that I created on stretched canvas...but it is mixed media of oil, watercolor, acrylic paints, and pencil. The painting was a study I did during Open Studio in the VineArts Studio. I found the original in a "how to" watercolor book. I'm not much for "how to" books...I would rather create original ideas. So I decided to make it my own by mixing and layering different mediums and utilizing splatter & drip techniques that the book didn't offer.

This painting is oil with some acrylic paint splatter. I did this one in Open Studio at the VineArts Studio also...I had brought my Winsor & Newton, and Sennelier Oil Bars in to demostrate to other artists and this was a painting I created on the spot. Oh...and there's also a little watercolor whirlpool painting (featured in one of the photos above) that I did in Open Studio as a study for a larger painting I was planning to do in layered acrylics.

OH...and all paintings are for sale!

Having an art show once in awhile is something I enjoy very much. There's something about prepping, painting, & planning for an installation that brings about a sense of accomplishment once it's hung and in view of the public. Over the last 12 years I have shown in NUMEROUS art galleries, art supply stores, coffeeshops, various kinds of retail shops, libraries, state fairs, auctions, juried shows, indoor & outdoor art & music events, & even private home shows. The exposure my paintings get during art shows has always allowed for sales & some great contact with future clients and also for continued relationship with venues & establishments.