Happy New Year!

 

This year has been a beautiful one.  I painted.   I made dolls.  I gardened...a lot. So much peace comes from being outside in nature, and it is a big part of  what made the year feel so beautiful. I was outdoors for countless hours creating beds, mowing paths to reduce my lawn, planting seeds and just planting in general.  I put in dozens of trees, shrubs, and flowers.  I even put in a mini orchared with apple trees, strawberries, blackberries and blueberries. I studied permaculture and learned about rewilding, trying to apply those practices into my yard.  I cannot wait to see how it all looks next year.  

I put together a a video showing all the art from 2023.  Many of the dolls were actually made in 2022, but I never shared them until this year.  And below is my favorite photo this year from all the ones taken of my garden.

I hope you have a wonderful and Happy New Year! 

Newest Painting and What Inspired It

Dawn Has Broken
oil on cradled wood panel 11x14 inch
available for purchase here

 Two years ago I was visiting the Nelson Atkin's Museum in Kansas City, Missouri and saw The Record Player by Karl Hoger.  I was very moved by it, so later on I made my version of it and infused it with memories of spending hours and hours listening to records and with a love of painting intimate interiors and shadows and light.  I think my version is a little bit more joyful, but given the time he lived in, it's easy to see why his is a bit dark.

Spring is Coming

 

Flowers Citron Green
oil on panel 6x6 inch
(sold)

Winter is a wonderful season of rest.  One can sleep more with the extra darkness and cozy up for some good reading and movie watching.  But come March, it is common for a craving of color and warmer temperatures.  That craving often shows up in my art.

Frog
original art doll

cilantro started from seed

My first pot of the season is full of cilantro!  I am planning on growing some other herbs and vegetables this year.  Growing food will be a learning experience for me.  Tomorrow I will be joining a group of local urban growers with Montiel Farms to plant potatoes.  You're never too old to learn new things!

Watching the Biggest Little Farm

 If  words like environment, ecosystem, farming, nature and rewilding spark an interest in you, then you will likely LOVE this documentary.  I have watched it twice now as these topics have been very interesting to me for some time.  There is now a second documentary as well, but I have not seen it yet.

My house sits on about 1/2 acre of land and this year I plan to start in making it into something more purposeful, yet beautiful.  My goals are nothing like what is shown in this film, but there are a lot of areas of inspiration for sure.  

I hope you love the film too.  Enjoy!

New Little Paintings

Living Room With Turquois Pillows
oil on linen panel 7x5 inch

I have created quite a few small paintings lately.  Here are the dry ones so far.  They are all available in my Etsy shop.  I think I am craving color like many people do this time of year. 

Cup of Pink
oil on cradled wood 4x6 inch

Little Flowery Landscape
oil on cradled wood panel 4x6 inch

This Painting is Finally Home

Cafe in Tribeca 
2015

If you have followed my art for a while, you may remember this painting from 2015. It was painted back in the day when I was at Tessera Gallery here in Wichita. It was inspired by a visit to New York City and a cafe there in the Tribeca area. The figure sitting at the window to the left is a nod to one of my favorite Edward Hopper paintings called Chop Suey. This painting has been all over the place from the gallery here, back to my studio, then to Colorado while I lived there where it was in a show in Colorado Springs and in then in the background photo of an interview  I did with Colorado Homes. We were smack dab in the middle of moving back to Kansas when that interview was done, boxes everywhere and the pandemic was in the beginnings.  The painting traveled with me back to Kansas, went on a long term loan with someone I trusted to keep it, and then back to my studio to be listed once again on Etsy. I often paint over paintings this old and this one did have a retouch on the waitress at one point.  Her neck and posture bothered me, so I repainted the whole head and face. Anyways this painting is finally home, purchased by a long time collector and it's back in Colorado.  I am so so happy and grateful for this because it was always one of my favorites.  

Another Video Creation

 

Creating short and entertaining videos has been a thing I do for many years now.  I watch a lot of YouTube videos myself at night just before going to sleep.  They say the computer screen lights are not a good thing as it can disrupt your sleep, but it has never seemed to bother me.  I love to watch videos on art, interior design, but especially on quiet living, minimalism, or living with intention.  It often inspires me to take the thousands of videos and photos I take while out and about and put them to good use.  Like using them to make this little video.  It is about a two minute nature walk through one of our local parks here in Kansas.  

If you are a YouTube subscriber, you can find my channel under Lisa Graham Art.  I post new videos periodically on painting, drawing, hiking, and lifestyle.  I would love it if you subscribe to my humble little channel.

Until next time.

February! Around Here Lately

 

Seated Woman Waiting
oil on linen panel

Though the landscape still looks very much like winter, the daylight is returning.  Some birds are becoming more vocal, like the cardinals.  You don't realize how much you have missed their song until it returns filling the quiet morning air with delightful energy.  

female cardinal

male cardinal

I have been doing the usual things this new year.  Painting, drawing, reading and taking daily walks are my favorite things to do.  I am also dreaming of a wildflower pasture in our backyard, a small effort to join the "rewilding" movement I am so intrigued about.  I live in the city limits, so growing tall grass is not allowed.  I will have to place the pasture in a place where it cannot be seen from the street, so it won't be a big one, but they say every little bit counts to help with pollination. 

The pasture will go somewhere where you see the green grass, but more to the left of the photo's edge.  I am trying to decide on layout, shape, etc.

Last year I planted a little seed garden with all kinds of flower seeds.  These are morning glories popping up.  The garden did not turn out as full and pretty as I hoped, but the this year it will be more mature hopefully.  

What does gardening have to do with painting and art?  For me, everything.  They go hand in hand.  Time outside = inspiration...always.

I want my garden to feel like this...all layers and texture and color.  I took this photo at the botanical garden in Denver, Colorado while visiting last fall. 

GOALS :)

Mitsou says "until next time!"

Revisting the Art of Doll Making

 

 

Back in the 90's I explored doll making.  It was 15 years before I would discover my love for painting.  I was working in the Coronary Intensive Care Unit at a hospital at the time and I remember how relaxing it was to work with clay, paint and cloth. My job was very stressful and this offered such a respite.  I made 11 doll ornaments with matching hearts and bows to go on our Christmas tree.  It took two months to make them.  My husband kept commenting about how fixated I was during the process.   I should have known then that making art would be a good fit for me. 

Last March I had the desire to reexplore this art and found it to be just as satisfying as painting.  I don't think I will ever stop painting, but having other mediums to work with is a good thing because I have always liked variety.

These two have been listed in my Etsy shop.  

In October, I rearranged my workspace again.  Here it is as of yesterday.  It's already a mess, but that's a good thing, right?

I have been working on my bird photography.  I would like to buy a new lens for my camera to get clearer photos of them.  Birds are so beautiful in their markings, not to mention entertaining to watch!  I love this photo the most out of dozens I took recently.  It looks like he is casually taking in the scenery, though I am sure he is just keeping an eye out for predators.  I discovered a YouTube channel titled Leslie the Bird Nerd.  She lives in northeastern US and is so knowledgeable about birds. It is amazing how much they trust her, eating seed right from her hand.  Her videography is stunning also and I highly recommend her channel if you are a bird lover too.

                                                                                    

I am keeping this post short and sweet...Until next time!