A Video Review of the Good Things in 2020

 

2020 was a life shaking year for everyone on earth. It will never be forgotten. And personally, in both my art and my life, it brought many changes. The biggest change was the move my husband and I made back to Kansas after living in Colorado for just over two years. Our landscape went from mountains to gentle rivers. It was with some reluctance that we left that majestic landscape, but we are home and in this season it feels right. In this video there is a chronological view of 2020. Highlights and day to day life throughout the year are sprinkled with the changes in seasons and landscapes, and of course my paintings are here.

Here's to a better year in 2021 for all of us.

Blessings,

Lisa

Cows and Chairs, Horace Pippin, and Past Paintings

Cows and Chairs
oil on canvas
11 x 14 inch

I have been enjoying doing these paintings with playful combinations.  I started on another idea, but it will be the last for a while because I want to get back to painting rooms and figures.  I am sure the inspiration for this one stems from growing up in Kansas and my love for chairs.  A friend said she can now imagine cows being like spotted leather chairs out in a field.  I love that.  

Recently I discovered the work of Horace Pippin.  I love the intimate family rooms he composes and his use of patterns, particularly in some of the women's clothing.  

Horace Pippin's "Domino Players" 1943

Horace Pippin's "Asleep" 1943

I bought the book I Tell My Heart:  The Art of Horace Pippin and it is a gook one with plenty of colored photos of his art and a lot of information about him.  He was self-taught.

I like to revisit old paintings from time to time and these two are from January 2014, five years ago.  My style has changed in ways, not in others.  I used to work in a lot more mixed media than I do now.  I prefer oils these days because I think the colors come out more vibrant when I use them.

Bree in a Dreamweaver Coat
mixed media

Winter's Blessing
mixed media

I hope your new year is off to a great start!

Until next time!

♥ Lisa

Alpacas and Chandeliers

Alpacas and Chandeliers
oil on canvas 11 x 14 inch

When we first moved to Colorado last April, we stayed temporarily on a ranch in a loft apartment above a barn.  It was primarily a horse ranch, but the owner had a small herd of alpacas.  Ever since staying there, I have wanted to paint them and I finally did.  Why the chandeliers?  No other reason other than I thought it was a funny idea and they were fun to paint.  Alpacas themselves are funny looking creatures.

This is my last painting in 2018 and boy did the year fly by.  So many changes, so many activities. I am not as prolific a painter as I used to be, but I sure did explore our new state.  Vic and I love to take hikes on New Years eve, but this year it's 12 degrees and snowing which is why I am doing a blog post instead today.  I love walking in snow, but the temperature isn't hiker-friendly, so we did our hike yesterday.  It was a fun day...seven miles, lots of just taking it in.  Here's a couple of scenes from our time in Roxborough State Park.

I am looking forward to 2019.  May there be more days like yesterday in the coming year!

Thank you for following this blog and I want to  wish you a very Happy New Year!  May the year be all you hope for.

♥ Lisa

Goldie and Blue and a Happy 2015!

Goldie and Blue

mixed media 

16 x 20 inch cradled board

(sold)

This is the last painting in 2014 and I finished it this morning.  Well, it's mostly finished.  There are a few areas I would like to clean up, especially around the bird.  I painted this based on a painting I did in my sketchbook a while back.  Honestly, the whole thing was about using the gold colored acrylic paint I bought and the story unfolded from there, in my sketchbook and in the painting. 

I read someone's Facebook post this morning that said they were going to push 2014 right off the edge of a cliff and it made me laugh.  I wasn't laughing at this person's hardships, no, I was laughing at the thought of being able to actually push a bad year off of the edge of a cliff.  Now wouldn't that feel good.  

I can't say 2014 was the best year.  I lost my mom this year and it still hurts.  But I've had many blessings too,  and for this I am so grateful. 

Thank you all for everything!  Here's to a blessed 2015 for all of us!  

Happy New Year!

♥ Lisa