Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Catching up and being grateful



I can't believe the last time I posted was in September. I have been so wrapped up in preparing for my new job as an adjunct, prepping and planning workshops and getting into the studio that I just haven't had the energy to do a post. I am so grateful that it is Thanksgiving week. Here is a quick recap:

Teaching:
I have been  teaching for about 5 years now. Encaustic, pigment sticks, mixed media, and most recently college 2d design and drawing. I am getting better at planning and preparing for  workshops but college teaching has a huge learning curve.  I like the kids very much but the prep, grading and policing is a bit overwhelming. I know it will get easier. I am having fun revisiting the basics of point, line, plane, grid, positive and negative etc....

grid with repeating elements





I have been busy planning and booking workshops for 2012. I am grateful for these opportunities to teach, travel and work with great people.

January 25, 26, 27 
Pigment sticks at R & F Handmade Paints, Kingston,NY
April 18, 19, 20  
Pigment sticks at R & F Handmade Paints, Kingston, NY
June 4  
FULL
Pigments Sticks and Encaustic at Sixth International Encaustic Conference Provincetown, Mass
June17-22     
Encaustic  and Embellishment
Cullowhee Mountain ARTS at Western Carolina University, Cullowhee, North Carolina
July 26-30 
FUSE: Art, Body, Motion with artist Sara Mast
Bozeman, Montana 
August  20 -24
Pigment Stick and Mixed Media
October 17,18,19
Pigment sticks at R & F Handmade Paints, Kingston, NY





Exhibition News:

In October my work was in  Kindred Spirits curated by Toby Sisson at the
Schiltkamp  Art Gallery, Clark University, Worcester MA. It included works by Kim Bernard, David A. Clark, Miles Conrad, Sue Katz, Kathleen Lemoine, Joanne Mattera, Laura Moriarty , Lisa Pressman, Marybeth Rothman, and Donna Talman. It is up until December 12th.

Close up of Making Sense


Next year I will be included in "Confluence: Medium Meets Message" at the
Morean Arts Center, St Petersburg, Fla. This show is curated by Amanda Cooper and Leslie Neumann.
WAX: Medium Meets Message
March 23 – May 28, 2012
Opening Reception: March 23, 2012

Local artist and activist Leslie Neumann gathered a roster of stellar artists who work in diverse methods, but share the common bond of using encaustic, a wax based paint with luminous qualities.

Hailing from divergent places such as Portland, OR, Santa Fe, NM, Maine and the New York City area, each artist brings a unique and exciting perspective to this ancient medium. Viewers will be astounded by the floating installations of Lorrie Fredette, the kinetic sculptures of former dancer Kim Bernard, and the political bite of Russell Thurston.  Wax gets nostalgic with the photo-based paintings of Marybeth Rothman, and brilliantly abstract in the hands of Lisa Pressman.

Leslie Neumann and Elise Wagner draw our attention upward with paintings that explore the cosmos. Artists who present a more down-to-earth perspective are the seed-studded altars of Ann Taylor Gibson, and the geological sculptures of Laura Moriarty.

This exhibition not only will feature the diversity of wax in art, but will also provide our community with a fun, educational component featuring the history of wax and all its other versatile uses.

I am  thrilled to be included in the inaugural edition of Encaustic Works ‘11, a juried show in print by Joanne Mattera. My work was selected to be part of the portfolio section of the book.






Studio News:
My studio is in a state of disarray. I have many pieces working and just a few close to finished. I have been painting with oils, pigment sticks, ink and wax and having that "not knowing"  feeling.  All I do know, is when I am in the studio I know that is where I am supposed to be.

 

My office has become not only the communication, marketing and "sales" center but my 2D design studio. How many jobs do we all have as artists?......tooooo many.

My website needs attention so that is on my list for the near future.  I have been working on my artist statement. The never ending tweaking and retweaking....Here it is as of today:


My work is rooted in play, a sense of discovery and a passion for revealing the unknown. Images emerge from my translation of experiences of the outside world, and are internalized through the lens of the inner eye. I am interested in motion, energy and balance both formally and metaphorically.

The paintings develop through an intuitive dialog between deliberate and random marks, allowing a relationship between intent and accident to unfold. Time and memory are evoked through the process of layering and scraping. The working process is inseparable from the completed image, which stands as a witness to the history of its making.




Art Seeing News:
Part of my deal with myself with traveling into NYC for teaching is not to waste the money I spend just on the commute.  Recently, I went to see DeKooning which was overwhelming and I need to see it again. What struck me this first visit was the that those last paintings seemed to be the last of his memory of his painting structure that he used throughout his life.





Last Friday I went to Chelsea and saw Joan Michell and Richard Pousette Dart. Both must sees!
Joan Mitchell

close up of a Joan Mitchell

Joan Mitchell

Joan Mitchell

Richard Pousette Dart

Richard Pousette Dart

Richard Pousette Dart



Although I am grateful for all of the above, my family and my friends, old and new, are at the top of my list.

Happy Thanksgiving !














3 comments:

CMC said...

No wonder it's been a long time. Such a busy person you are. Happy Thanksgiving to you, Lisa.

Oh so wishing I could get up to see those shows before they close. Who knows? Maybe I will.

Nancy Natale said...

Wow, such a great post, Lisa! You made up for lost time. It's so good to see your active studio and hear about what you're doing. Good luck on keeping all those balls in the air! The Pousette Dart works are so fabulous!

Anonymous said...

Wow, you have been busy! It was nice seeing your work and all that you are doing. A post doesn't have to be long you could keep in touch with just a picture and a short note. I love seeing your work and it would be very much appreciated! Congratulations for a wonderful, busy year and more to come in the New Year!