The Nature of Design-Pattern
Copyright While a bug is different than a rock, their basic patterns are so similar. The repetition of shapes throughout the dragonfly are repeated in the leaves and rock. Shapes, repetition, pattern, line and texture, all fundamental properties of both nature and design.
The Nature of Design-Pattern by Lisa Goesling-Copyright
J/A Magnolias
Thought I would share the final version of J/A Magnolias. It is featured in my interview on the Cable TV Show, Artist to Artist. (Will let you know when it airs.) Twelve 8"x8" panels all flowing together to create a portion of the magnolia tree that resides right outside my front door.
J/A Magnolias by Lisa Goesling-Copyright
Interaction
These little people just come out of me. They are on every notepad around our house. I am sure that past teachers have found them on the corner of a desk, no paper has caused me to take desperate measures! I've created three so far, but the final installation will contain nine 19" x 25" framed pieces of art. The base is made up of nine 5"x7" black clayboards tiled together with people moving from board to board. Floating a couple of inches above is a piece of plexiglass. I drew characters all over the plexi with a Dremel Engraver. No two are the same and the effect is quite fun!
Interaction 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
J/A Magnolias
This 24" x 36" piece has been quite a challenge! By trial and error I have learned that these clayboards cannot be too large. Once they get larger than say 18"x18, there is a chance that they may bow or crack. I have one that is 24"x36" that has a few cracks throughout it, after all, it is made of clay. So in order to work in a larger scale, I group several smaller boards together. They come out looking like tiles and I can mount them together to create one cohesive piece. The contrast between the stark background and the creamy white lines is really striking as is evidenced in this Magnolia tree. I am constantly amazed at the shapes of these elegant flowers and how the varied branches overlap each other. Just showed the art buyers who commissioned this piece my progress and they are thrilled!
J/A Magnolias by Lisa Goesling-Copyright
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
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
Orchid Part One and Two
I decided to take a vertical approach to this piece by taking two separate 11"x14" boards creating one piece of art. Each section of Orchid Part One and Two works separately as well as a unit. I apologize for the loss of detail. I typically scan my work into the computer but these were just a bit too large to scan. That left me with photographing the art which as you can see, isn't my strong point! Lost pretty much all of the detail, but I assure you...it is there! What isn't lost is the movement, the glorious shapes and the range of tones creating depth and beauty throughout. Enjoy!
Orchid Part One and Two by Lisa Goesling-Copyright
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!
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.
Pussy Willow/Weed Study by Lisa Goesling Copyright
I have been working on this one for some time. I believe that I presently have about eleven pieces in the works. It keeps each of them fresh and makes me concentrate on a variety of different perspectives. I call this one Puss Willow/Weed Study because I have spent a long time studying the different elements as well as the fact that I am treating this as a study. It may turn into several smaller pieces, perhaps cropped in different compositions. This one is unusually large, 30" x 40". I don't typically work this size because the boards tend to crack from the weight of the clay when they get too big . I think I am going to add just a bit of subtle color and leave some of the shapes simply outlined. I always love your comments, what do you think?
Wine Labels created from Detail of a Grape Leaf by Lisa Goesling Copyright
I was selected to compete with five other artists in creating a design for a wine label using original art. I created this Detail of a Grape Leaf, (see previous post) and won. Cathy Bremer represents the winery and provided me with the necessary input to bring the labels to fruition. Can't wait to see how the larger veins in the art looked embossed and in color. Thanks, Cathy!
1 0f 8 by Lisa Goesling Copyright
My friend Len Upin knows me so well! He saved this dried up artichoke for me from his garden knowing full well that I would fall in love with the details! I am in the process of making eight pieces that fit together to form the whole artichoke. Can't wait for you to take a closer look at the finished piece!
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!
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!
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: Winter Leaf by Lisa Goesling
One of the many gifts of having a mild winter is being able to easily find bits of nature just waiting to be drawn. Leaves all curled up, evolving into shapes far more interesting than their first incarnation. Following the twists and turns of this leaf, letting it fall off of the page, made for a really interesting composition.
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.
Copyright: Layers of Weeds by Lisa Goesling
I just love the way these weeds dance in the breeze! They are at the mercy of the wind, which ever way it decides to blow, they follow. I varied the amount of pressure with my etching tool enabling me to develop depth and create a constant tension between the these glorious weeds.
