3 dimensional art
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.
3D Cube /
Birds Nest in Progress by Lisa Goesling
I love finding little gifts waiting for me outside; they become my muse for a few weeks, or in this case several months! A simple birds nest with a few cracked eggs-instantly consuming my thoughts..."how do I capture this?" After photographing the nest from all angles to make certain I had a good representation of it before it disintegrated; I gathered similar materials from the yard, dried up brush, twigs, leaves and pine needles. For this piece, I am using a 2 sided box that is 20"x20" and 6" deep, one side is a black scratchboard, the other white aqua board. You can see how I treated the black side by using an X-Acto knife to draw layers of dried brush. In addition to capturing the movement and delicacy of the materials, I intend to add smaller paintings and black scratchboards to the surface. I like the idea of providing multiple layers of interest and will repeat this technique on the other side with a mix of photography, paintings, drawings and actual brush.
One Catkin In Bloom /
One Catkin In Bloom
Capturing a single catkin, (the puffy bloom on a pussy willow) right when all of the little buds were exploding was so much fun! I spend a lot of time studying pussy willows. Their fine lines, depth and details are perfect for Scratchbords. Taking a small surface and making a big impression proves that art doesn't have to be huge to be powerful.
One Catkin in Bloom by Lisa Goesling-Copyright
Orchid Evolution Stage 2 /
Orchid On Steroids
Slowly but surely, this 30"x60" scratchboard is evolving. I am just as surprised as you are watching the detailed lines create living, breathing forms.
Orchid on Steroids by Lisa Goesling-Copyright
Snapdragon /
Snapdragon
I am captivated by the delicate shapes and bold colors of these spring flowers. Did you know why they are called snapdragons? It's because they resemble the face of a dragon opening and closing their 'mouths' when squeezed!
Snapdragon by Lisa Goesling-Copyright
Catkin Study /
Catkin Study
In keeping with my pussy willow theme, I thought I would concentrate on their most distinctive element, the catkin. Before male catkins come into full flower, they are covered in fine greyish 'fur', one of the earliest signs of spring. Chinese legend says that the young green shoots sprouting through the puffy white buds signify prosperity. I am only about half way through this single catkin, still debating whether or not to add color. A lot more dimension needs to be added to this 20"x20" piece, but eventually I hope that you will feel as if you can reach out and touch it!
Catkin Study by Lisa Goesling-Copyright
Artist to Artist Pussy Willow /
Artist to Artist Pussy Willow
I demonstrated my Scratchbord technique on the show Artist to Artist back in November. Concentrating on the details, I drew a small portion of a Pussy willow. I finally had the opportunity to complete the piece and as host Enid Silverman said, "you sure can create a lot of drama with this medium!". http://vimeo.com/65342171
Artist to Artist Pussy Willow by Lisa Goesling-Copyright
Inside of an Iris /
I found so much detail looking deep into this Iris flower, developing a strong sense of movement through the shapes and textures as they wrapped around themselves. The multiple layers ultimately formed an interesting abstract. A background of Black Enamel paint, applied with an irregular pattern, serves as a stark contrast with the fine lines of the flower. This piece was used for the cover of the book, Transatlantic, by New York Times Bestseller, Colum McCann.
Inside of an Iris by Lisa Goesling-Copyright
The Nature of Design-Movement-Color /
Colored - The Nature of Design - Movement
While going through the exploration process of how to add color to this piece, I knew that I wanted to make it appear ethereal. I love how the colors and textures evolved into a completely different entity from their original form.
The Nature of Design-Movement-Color-Copyright
The Nature of Design-Movement /
The Nature of Design - Movement
I have absolutely no idea what this strange dried sea creature, or perhaps seaweed, is. My friend Alex found it on a beach in North Carolina. It is crusty, and twisted and filled with lines that move along a crooked path. The eye travels across the page stopping to embrace each shape, a study of movement unto their own.
The Nature of Design-Movement-Copyright
Flow /
Colored Columbines
I don't sketch what I am going to do when I begin a piece. My art just flows from me, to my tool, and then to my board. Leaving out what is before me is just as important as what I put in.
Colored Columbines by Lisa Goesling-Copyright
Full Artichoke x 6 /
Full Artichoke
I have been studying this prehistoric dried Artichoke for several months, finally creating six 8"x8"panels into a multi faceted work of art. You can see that it was no easy task to fit six panels together, nor getting them to appear together after being scanned. Luckily Gemini Moulding did a fabulous job of mounting and framing them into a perfectly cohesive work of art. Thank you Gemini, for being equally as concerned about paying attention to the details as I am!
Full Artichoke by Lisa Goesling-Copyright
Simple Elegance /
Lily of the Valley
Lily of the Valley is a study in contrasts, not just how the tiny white flowers are enveloped by large green leaves, but from a medicinal standpoint. While it contains glycosides that can produce irregular heartbeat and upset stomach, it is also a formidable brain, lymph and heart herb used to create several drugs. Lily of the Valley has proved successful in treating patients recovering from strokes, in soothing nerves, reducing blood pressure, curing headaches and as a remedy for treating burns! I guess that you can say that it lowered my blood pressure, getting lost in the beautiful shapes. I hope that it does the same for you!
Lily of the Valley by Lisa Goesling-Copyright
Finished Draft /
Finished Draft
It's so freeing to finish a piece without filling it in completely. Sometimes art dictates when it is done and that's exactly what happened in this case. The shapes and details make certain areas the star while the others are happy to sit back and contribute to the composition as a whole.
Finished Draft by Lisa Goesling-Copyright
J/A Magnolia Top Right /
Open Magnolias Top Right by Lisa Goesling Copyright
Concentrating on movement and depth has been the driving force behind each of the twelve pieces that make up this new Open Magnolias commission. Not every panel will have color, but you can see how adding a rich brown to the branches adds another dimension to the composition. Only eight more to go!
3 Peppers /
3 Peppers by Lisa Goesling Copyright
Peppers are filled with all sorts of layers, always an invitation for me to explore them further. Their shiny outer shells open to fibrous innards, sometimes filled with a little surprise!
Jigsaw Experiment /
Copyright: 3D Thistle by Lisa Goesling
I have been intrigued with using Black Claybords as sculpture. They have a bit of depth to them both by their very nature and by creating dimension through line. I haven't used a jigsaw in years, but going around the Thistle was easier than I thought it would be. Can you notice that I even went around the little hairs at the top? Now I know I can achieve this technique, can't wait to apply it to my next piece of art!
Before and After /
Group of Columbines by Lisa Goesling Copyright
These Columbines have an incredible amount of movement, taking turns layering over each other. Working within a square format makes it challenging in terms of composition. I needed to edit just how many flowers would fill the space. Adding a touch of color to the finished piece creates energy without becoming too overpowering.
I Love Orchids! /
Full Orchid by Lisa Goesling Copyright
Orchids date back 15 to 20 million years. I'd have to live that long to capture every one of the approximately 25,000 varieties! I never grow tired of the minute details and seemingly endless shapes, colors, and designs.
