scratchboard
Lily Bulb with Leaf by Lisa Goesling
I am not quite there with this but since it equals three of the smaller pieces going towards my large installation, I feel pretty good about the progress. It is likely going to be all black and white except for the leaf's color. By coming in close to one single bud, both beauty and power emanate from the lily's graceful form.
Colum McCann's TransAtlantic with Lisa Goesling's Inside of an Iris artwork on Front Cover.
Book designer Anders Bergesen got my attention when he contacted me about using one of my pieces of art for the cover of New York Times Bestseller,TransAtlantic, by Colum McCann. Colum's work has been translated into 35 languages, this version is Norwegian. I am quite thrilled to have my Inside of an Iris gracing the cover of one of his wonderful novels.
Opus Coleus for BR
Composition of a Coleus
My friends, Barbara and Rich, asked to purchase my original Composition of a Coleus. I said that it belonged to someone else, so they commissioned me to create a new one. The finished piece wound up a bit different from my first one in that it has a whole lot less color. In its place you see the process of how layers are developed. By adding just the right amount of color, the shapes build on each other creating a symphony of contrast and patterns. Which is fitting, because their home is filled with music streaming from a sound system that has to be heard to be believed. In addition, no matter where you look you are surrounded by beauty, from their gardens to their incredible art collection. Opus Coleus has found the perfect home.
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.
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
In the Shadows by Lisa Goesling Copyright
I love this time of year, nature is so stark, just like my art. Movement and mood were established in this piece by varying line weight and the point of view of each element. I began by flipping over an old frame, staining the wood to achieve a warm glow and then 'etching' out puss willows. Tension was created by contrasting the quiet tone of the background with the bold Black Claybords. By layering the art and using a jig saw to cut around the edge of the Thistle, I achieved my goal of creating dimension through flat materials. Sculpting a 3D Puss Willow out of volcanic ash to match the white layer of clay in the Claybords added the finishing touch to this composition.
Copyright: Larger Than Life Texas Thistle by Lisa Goesling
I created this piece for an organization called ACT, Artists Changing Tomorrow. It is part of an International Fund Raising event taking place at The Gallery at Round Top, in Texas. What can be huger than changing lives through art? As owner, Karen Vernon so eloquently put it, Learning through the arts not only results in the creation of beautiful works, but contributes to greater academic achievement, higher test scores, and the creative thought that leads nations. Thank you Ralph Arvesen for allowing me to work off of your gorgeous photography. I incorporated both the Texas Thistle into this piece along with the background flowers which are Crow Poison. (They sound a little scary so I left them black and white!)
Copyright: Composition of A Coleus by Lisa Goesling
These leaves are interesting in and of themselves. Coming in close makes them infinitely more interesting! I tried to capture the variegated leaves with their sharp contrasting reds, greens, yellows, maroons, and purples. They almost appear as if someone has taken a paintbrush to them. Of course, that's what I ultimately did after drawing them!
