It is an honor to involved in No Stomach For Cancer's upcoming Silent Art Auction. Having family directly touched by Stomach Cancer, I am happy to raise awareness and funds to help eradicate this cancer once and for all. We have 52 pieces of art donated by artists from across the country that will be on display as of Wednesday, October 26th, at the Pop Up Gallery at The Pfister Hotel in downtown Milwaukee, WI. The actual auction takes place Saturday evening, November 12th, from 6:30-9:30. However, you can visit the exhibition the entire month of November and continue to bid on any art that hasn't sold through 32 auctions at https://www.32auctions.com. Here is a sample of the artists who generously donated their art...
HUMAN NATURE: Lisa Goesling and Len Upin /
Finally able to show my art with long time friend, Len Upin, what a treat! Our work compliments each other so well, both creating images that are powerful when you stand back, yet even more so when you come in close. The humble lines creates energy from piece to piece as does the juxtaposition of Len's larger pieces to my smaller ones.
The Kavanagh Gallery
Captivating Art: LISA GOESLING-written by Renee LaVerne Rose /
Finished Draft by Lisa Goesling
http://emagazine.acs-mag.com/acs-magazine-septemb…/…/228-229
For those of you who haven't heard of Renee LaVerne Rose, it won't be long before she becomes a household word. Renee is a powerful supporter of artists worldwide, Director of ACS Gallery, Chicago, and Founder, Publisher, and Editor-In-Chief at ACS Magazine. Her ability to understand what drives an artist comes from her passion for creating her own art. Renee's generous spirit is what led her to interviewing me for ACS Magazine's September/October issue. I hope you enjoy it. Thanks, Renee!
HUMAN NATURE: Lisa Goesling & Len Upin: Opening, Friday September 5th, 5:30-7:30 pm /
Moving On-Completed /
Moving on by Lisa Goesling
Detail of Moving On by Lisa Goesling
Another Detail of Moving On by Lisa Goesling
My mark making took me on a journey from creating what I thought would be a vertical piece, to one that worked best horizontally. The only thing I planned was to use both found objects and abstract designs...from there I just trusted what would happen as I dragged my X-ACTO knife across the board. From a composition standpoint, I wanted to keep the eye moving yet invite the viewer to stop when landing on something interesting. Subtle textures support the bolder shapes as they glide across the page. The hint of a dragonfly's wings, circular shapes forming a wasps nest on the lower right, even little people that I love to draw, hidden in the gap above the shell like structure on the left. I enjoy completing a piece that looks well thought out even though I simply allowed it be flow.
MOVING ON by Lisa Goesling /
Upcoming Artist Talk/Workshop at Zhou B Art Center
When I first began working with Scratchboards I used to concentrate primarily on images from nature. Lately abstract imagery has become my focus. Moving On is a combination of my fascination with natures' intricate designs and my love of repeating patterns to develop complex structures. Drawing with an X-ACTO knife into boards made of clay and ink enables me to create stark contrast and movement. I am doing a demonstration/workshop today, Wednesday, July 6th at Zhou B Art Center in Chicago, from 6:30-7:00 pm. I don't plan my art so I'll be just as surprised as you watching this piece evolve before our eyes.
(Some of my inspiration: wasp nest, bottom left and leaf eaten away by insects, top right.)
14"x35"
LEXICON /
Spontaneous Combustion 1,2,3 by Lisa Goesling on display at LEXICON, Zhou B Art Center, Chicago, IL
Some comments written by visitors to LEXICON at Zhou B Art Center, Chicago, IL about Spontaneous Combustion 1,2,3,.
None of the 46 artists included in LEXICON, me being one of them, gave any information on our art to the folks who visited our exhibition. For a twist, they used Post It Notes to give their perspective on what was going on with our art. Some of the comments were really insightful, some were just plain fun. Jenny Lam, curator of the exhibition, created a wonderful environment for the artists to express themselves by participating in the show, and for people viewing the art to interact directly with each piece. You can view the show through Saturday, July 9th at Zhou B Art Center, 1029 W. 35th St., 2nd floor, Chicago, IL.
same difference: Art NXT Level/33 Contemporary Gallery Opening /
Lisa Goesling and Sergio Gomez
Hope you enjoy viewing the pics from my solo exhibition, same difference, at Art NXT Level/33 Contemporary. The space was perfect for my art and folks really enjoyed 'playing' with scratchboards as they strolled through the gallery. (Courtesy of Ampersand Art Supply-thank you!)
The best part about being able to show with Sergio Gomez, besides the fact that he is so easy going and a visionary, is that I was able to show a full range of what I do.
same difference by Lisa Goesling
same difference by Lisa Goesling
same difference by Lisa Goesling
same difference by Lisa Goesling
same difference by Lisa Goesling
same difference by Lisa Goesling: Spontaneous Combustion 1,2,3
same difference by Lisa Goesling
same difference by Lisa Goesling
same difference by Lisa Goesling: Spontaneous Combustion series in progress.
same difference by Lisa Goesling: Multiple Lilies
same difference by Lisa Goesling
same difference by Lisa Goesling: Out With a Bang
same difference by Lisa Goesling: Clearly Interacting series
same difference by Lisa Goesling: Interaction
same difference by Lisa Goesling: Detail of Interaction
same difference by Lisa Goesling: Birds Nest
Work in Progress and Upcoming Exhibition /
My upcoming solo exhibition at Art NXT Level/33 Contemporary from April 15-May 13 includes three different studies of how I approach line. I am presently working on a series called Spontaneous Combustion. The image at the top is an example on how layering organic lines across a page can actually make the image inhale and exhale. Part of the forty pieces within the show are from my Environmental Movement series, (image on left), which is heavily inspired by Eco-Psychology, the study of emotional connections between individuals and nature. Lastly, Interaction, (image on right), is composed of tightly rendered characters layered on top of each other. At first glance you can't see that they are people interacting, but upon closer inspection, their personalities begin to emerge. All of my art concentrates on line and its ability to draw you in.
UPCOMING SOLO EXHIBITION /
Out With A Bang /
'Out With a Bang' captures the spontaneity of my line making as I simply face a black board and begin to draw. The patterns covering the background have a pulsating rhythm that pushes the larger white images right off of the surface. Everything was drawn with an X-ACTO knife into a hard board covered in a layer of clay and India ink, (Ampersand Scratchboard). The very last step was to paint with colored inks over the detailed abstract designs.
The Makings of a Bird's Nest /
Bird's Nest by Lisa Goesling
After coming upon a fully intact birds nest outside of our home, I marveled at how such a tiny creature can create something so complex? I searched around for similar materials and the idea of deconstructing a bird's nest was born. I thoroughly enjoy pushing the boundaries of any medium to discover what happens, so I added elements like natural materials, a small painting on canvas and drawings throughout the scratchboard surface. I am constantly thinking about the hierarchy of layers, in this case I covered the background with subtle black lines drawn with an X-ACTO knife and filled in with black ink. As I began to build this piece, I imagined the viewer looking down into it, just like I had done when first discovering the bird's nest. The entire scratchboard forms the top of a 32" high pedestal which is 22"x22" around.
SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION /
Spontaneous Combustion 1 by Lisa Goesling
Spontaneous Combustion 2 by Lisa Goesling
Spontaneous Combustion 3 by Lisa Goesling
My new series, Spontaneous Combustion, is a journey into Lyrical Expressionism. I am discovering all sorts of new things about both me and my medium, Scratchboard. Every time I make a mark it leads to another mark. And while I don't plan any of my art, at least I have a basic idea of what the form of a flower looks like. In this instance, it is a complete leap of faith. Layers of shapes and patterns spill across the boards creating a rhythm that appears to inhale and exhale.
The End of the Story /
Orchid Bud by Lisa Goesling
This single Orchid Bud, no larger than a dime, really intrigued me. There was nothing particularly grand about it when viewed through the naked eye, but once I placed my magnifying glass between my eye and this bud, something truly unexpected occurred. An undulating structure, more brain-like than flower appeared, filled with an array of colors that weren't there a minute ago.
After hours of capturing the twisted layers that formed this tiny bud, I finally had it framed and put on display.
Normally that would have been the end of it. But not in this case, in this case I knew that there was more to the story.
Back to the drawing board, I introduced the evolution of an orchid, contrasting the buds tight shapes with the suggestion of a fully realized flower.
Uprooted /
Uprooted by Lisa Goesling
It's fascinating to me that roots hidden deep below the surface of the Earth can mimic what rises above them.
Complicated systems of 'branches' weaving in and out, soil still clinging to their armature even though the roots were removed from the ground weeks ago. The only thing that has shown signs of passing are the leaves, still attached but twisted into something very different from their previous incarnation.
A Single 'Shroom /
A Single 'Shroom by Lisa Goesling
I am not sure how many hours went into this piece. It's been breathing in my studio for a while. There are always questions lying somewhere in my subconscious, do I leave out some of my subject, if so, how much? Does it tell the whole story without the whole mushroom? Is it necessary to add color? Is it more powerful black and white? What about the background, add a soil like texture to contrast the smooth lines? Every artist constantly deals with editing questions along the way, knowing that each choice takes them down a different path. Since I don't sketch my art first, I never really know which direction I am going until I know that I have arrived.
Multiple Lilies /
Multiple Lilies by Lisa Goesling
My goal is to tell nature’s stories. Fine lines form these delicate buds giving us no indication of what surprises await. Then suddenly we are greeted with a burst of energy of brightly colored petals, some upon closer inspection are filled with every color in the rainbow. These powerful images soon evolve into shriveled up silhouettes complete with their own mysteries. They twist and turn creating a beautiful ending to their compelling story.
Bark /
Bark by Lisa Goesling
I've walked past this incredible tree for twenty-five years. Eastern Cottonwoods have been known to live up to 300 years; who knows how many people have stopped to marvel at this majestic beauty right by the creek, with its deep fissures and subtle colors. I always knew that some day it would become my muse, now is that time. I finally dove in after photographing it from every angle and studying it up close. Capturing the complex structure of the bark with it's multiple layers, sent me on a journey of deep discovery into form and pattern. Bark is one of several pieces that will ultimately make up my birds nest cube 'sculpture'.
Mushroom in Progress /
Mushroom by Lisa Goesling
This is just a rough shot of my Mushroom Art. The form is so complex complete with textures and repetitive lines, what a pleasure to draw! It's prehistoric abstract shapes mimic creatures found under the sea. This Mushroom will be a part of my Close To The Sun series. The gills, wide, thin sheets like plates, radiate in all directions from the stem.
Inside of an Iris Wins an Award of Excellence /
Inside of an Iris by Lisa Goesling
Anders Bergesen of Superultraplus Designstudio contacted me a while back asking if I would be interested in having my art on the cover of Colum McCann's novel, TransAtlantic. I am a big fan of Colum's work and was so intrigued by Anders vision to incorporate my art into the story. The end result is that the book cover won a Wooden Pencil/Creative Excellence Award at the D&AD Awards 2015 in London. Anders is such a talented designer, I am so pleased to be a part of his success.