contrasting images
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.
Materials to study for adding to 3D Cube
Study of dried brush materials for 3D Cube by Lisa Goesling
I am in the process of studying materials I've collected for my 20"x20"x6" 3D Cube project. Small paintings like this one will be mounted on both the scratchboard and mixed media sides of the cube. It's a bit of a diversion for me to re-explore the world of paint after concentrating on scratchboard for so long. The challenge always comes down to editing; what to leave in, what to leave out, capturing the very essence of the story.
Top: Art of a Catkin from a Pussy Willow and a Fingerprint. Bottom: Lacy Leaf and Dragonfly by Lisa Goesling
Have you ever noticed how much nature's patterns repeat themselves? I first became truly aware when I was drawing a dragonfly. Not long before, I had completed a black and white scratchboard of a leaf eaten away by bugs. I named it Lacy Leaf because the patterns were so delicate and intricate, just like a fine piece of lace.
When I began to study the dragonfly, it too had a detailed pattern, much like the leaf. I was stunned by how the same seemingly random shapes fit together to form a majestic dragonfly.
Just the other day a friend came across one of my scratchboards of Pussy Willows. Her immediate response was, "they look like fingerprints!"
By this point, I was well aware of designs repeating themselves in birds, insects, plants and flowers. What I hadn't considered was that we share similar patterns with the rest of nature. All I had to do was to take a closer look.
What better way to get a sense of how dramatic my art is than to see it in a residential setting. The clean designs grouped together create an exciting statement and you can't help but to come in for a closer look.
Swept Away
I spend a whole lot of time distracted, not exactly watching where I am going. That's because I am always focused on finding the next great subject matter to create from. This branch with it's spotted, crumpled, leaves was waiting for me one day outside of my door. It isn't fall yet, but it didn't seem to know that.
Swept Away by Lisa Goesling-Copyright
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
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
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
Almost There Sunflower by Lisa Goesling Copyright
Varieties of the ancient sunflower sound like dinosaur names, Helianthus maximiliani, Helianthus tuberoses, and Tithonia rotunifolia. This one looks prehistoric with it's spiky shapes poking off of the page. I am going to leave it just as it appears giving it a little breathing room.
Willow Branches with Color by Lisa Goesling Copyright
I am continually amazed by nature. How silky white 'catkins' and rough gray/brown branches inhabit the same tree. Textures, colors, and shapes...what a perfect subject to draw!
Copyright: 2 Pinecones by Lisa Goesling
Pine cones laying amongst a pile of needles are a frequent site outside our home. They are one of those hearty signs of winter, thriving despite the elements. Multiple leaf-like shapes fold over one another, creating pockets of contrast and texture. The needles compliment the pine cone's mass with their thin lines, spaced out along a narrow stem. It's natures poetry unfolding before our eyes.
