LISA PAINTS

Group Show: Reflections

2012-02-15T08:32:00.000-05:00

I have a small piece in Dacia's upcoming show, Reflections.

Come on out - have a drink, look at art, talk it up, and of course, see me!

Opening Reception: Thursday, February 16, 6 - 10 pm

Location: Dacia Gallery

53 Stanton Street, New York, NY

For more information: www.daciagallery.com

Snow Walk, oil/canvas, 5 x 5"

Views from Brooklyn

2012-02-02T19:25:00.000-05:00

In progress...

Imagined Fire

2012-01-29T22:14:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T22:02:00.002-05:00

There's nothing like being home with my family for Christmas! Everything is so festive and there is nothing but good times and laughs all around. Wishing you and your family a happy holiday!

Soppressata

2011-12-22T16:39:00.000-05:00

Went with Barbara to the Italian deli in town to get Christmas meats, cheeses, and breads! Thought these dried sausages looked funny yet beautiful in all their hanging glory.

Photos from Hyperboreans Reception

2011-12-16T11:24:00.001-05:00

I had such a great time at the show last night! It was great to meet and chat with the other exhibiting artists and catch up with friends. The show had some really beautiful and interesting work and there was a great turn out, with lots of crazy characters! The whole night just had a great feeling to it, and the weather couldn't have been better. I look forward to having more nights like this one...

If you weren't able to make it last night, the show will be up until January 15th -- go and stop by and check it out in person! For more information: www.daciagallery.com

Kiss for Rachel completed!

2011-12-15T14:24:00.002-05:00

Finally put the finishing touches on this painting today and I'm so pleased with the way it turned out. It was nice to work on this small piece and take a break from the paintings I've been working on which are going in a looser and more abstract direction. Sometimes it's nice to have a balance of both tight and loose work just to keep things fresh and interesting. I have to say I'm a little sad to see this one go but I know that it will have a good home somewhere in Rachel's room (which is 5 feet away from my own room at this point in time)! I hope she gets just as much joy out of it as I did making it for her.

**If you find yourself really wanting a painting like this for your own wall, feel free to email me as I'm up for taking on commissions!**

Sunset in Midtown

2011-12-13T21:48:00.000-05:00

I caught this from a window in my office building today. I feel lucky to get such a nice view everyday.. being on the 30th floor has its perks!

Unexpected beauty

2011-12-11T17:07:00.000-05:00

Went for a walk with Barbara yesterday and found this boarded up restaurant that has been closed for years. Despite it looking pretty dilapidated on the outside, the way the sun was shining through the lace curtains was both eerie and beautiful.

GROUP EXHIBITION: HYPERBOREANS

2011-12-09T18:21:00.005-05:00

HYPERBOREANS at Dacia Gallery: December 15 - January 15, 2012.

OPENING RECEPTION: THURSDAY DECEMBER 15th, 6 - 10 PM.

53 Stanton St, New York NY, 10002

Among the exhibiting artists are my friends: Yuri Leonov, Jake Blake, and Louis Spano.

Come stop by on Thursday night and show some love!

For more information go to www.daciagallery.com

Scarlet Kiss featured in the Artist's Magazine

2011-12-03T20:00:00.002-05:00

Entered this piece way back in May and now it's printed in the January/February 2012 issue of the Artist's Magazine. Go pick one up!

Fire no.2

2011-12-01T22:40:00.001-05:00

These are so much fun! I might just keep on paintin' em until something else catches my eye. This one's also an 8 x 10.

Fire

2011-11-30T21:21:00.002-05:00

detail

I spent Thanksgiving up in Rochester with Sam and his lovely family. On my last night there we made a big bonfire and had a nice evening sitting around it. It was beautiful and I ended up taking quite a few photos that night. I thought it would be fun to paint fire since I've never done so before. It was a lot of fun painting something so bold and bright and out of control. I suggest everyone try it. This was a fast painting, and after it dries I'll most likely go back into it, with some glazing and added hints of color.

An homage to Turner, in progress

2011-11-08T23:55:00.003-05:00

Lost at E Minor

2011-11-03T17:00:00.003-04:00

I've been featured on Lost at E Minor with thanks to Louis Spano! Check out his stuff!

Details of what's to come..

2011-11-02T22:00:00.001-04:00

These detail shots are from a new piece I started a couple weeks ago. It's a 30" x 40", which is big news for me! Will show updated photo when I decide how to finish this monstrous thing.

Kiss for Rachel, progress

2011-10-28T21:30:00.003-04:00

This little 5" x 5" is for my roommate and friend, Rachel. She has been wanting a Hershey's kiss painting from me ever since last December when I started the Confections series. I thought it was about time to make it for her. It still needs finishing touches, but she's excited about it and that makes me happy.

Morning haze

2011-10-10T08:00:00.001-04:00

Morning Haze, oil/canvas, 16" x 20"

Desert sunsets

2011-10-07T16:00:00.001-04:00

Desert Sunset no. 1, oil/canvas, 8" x 10"

Desert Sunset no. 2, oil/canvas, 8" x 10"

Apple core

2011-10-05T16:37:00.002-04:00

Apple Core, oil/canvas, 8" x 10"

Hazy Solace

2011-10-01T15:45:00.002-04:00

Hazy Solace, oil/canvas, 5" x 7"

Blurred

2011-09-19T17:38:00.002-04:00

Blurred, oil/canvas, 8" x 10"

Four more bottles

2011-09-07T23:21:00.002-04:00

Untitled, oil/canvas, 16" x 20"

Recollection

2011-09-01T16:30:00.001-04:00

Recollection, oil/canvas, 8" x 10"

Patron bottle in progress...

2011-06-13T16:52:00.002-04:00

Finito

2011-06-12T21:20:00.001-04:00

Untitled, oil/canvas, 8" x 10"

Another bottle in progress...

2011-06-10T21:54:00.001-04:00

Started this little guy today, it's an 8 x 10 canvas panel which I oil primed myself last week. I've never worked on oil primed canvas, and I have to say that having tried it, I may never go back. The surface is much more receptive to oil paint, letting your initial brush strokes sit up on the surface rather than being sucked up by the canvas - this makes starting a painting a lot easier and definitely more fun. If you've never painted on an oil primed surface either, I highly suggest that you give it a try.

Details

2011-06-02T18:03:00.000-04:00

These are details of two different pieces I worked on today. They look totally different and conflicting but I don't care. Lately I've been inspired by just about anything and want to paint everything I see, so that's just what I'm going to do... We'll see how it works out.

Day at the MET

2011-06-01T22:14:00.003-04:00

Took a trip to the MET today to see the new exhibit "Rooms with a View," which presents paintings and drawings by Northern European artists who created pictures that showcased interiors and windows. The show had subtle beauty and was worth the trip. I didn't plan on it, but ended up seeing Alexander McQueen's "Savage Beauty,"which was a whole experience unique to anything I've ever seen. I never payed too much attention to McQueen but found myself intrigued and wanting to know more about the inner workings of such a creative individual. I wish photos were allowed in the exhibit because I dont have adequate words to describe the haunting, yet fantastical designs, imagery, and sounds featured in the show. Seeing them in person was definitely unforgettable. I recommend it to anyone who wants to see something completely odd and crazy, and at the same time, doesn't mind being sandwiched between people to see it-- the crowds were terrible!

After seeing the two shows I did my usual tour through the European wing and visited a few old favorites. I decided a few trips ago that this Monet is my all time favorite within the entire museum:

"Ice Floes" has an understated color palette that if viewed close up is actually full of rich color. The muted tones suggest a solemness and tranquility that speaks to me for some reason or another. This painting, has had a big effect on my aesthetic and after seeing it once again today I think I'm going to do some paintings inspired by it. On the ride home, as we drove North on the West Side Highway, the humidity of the day gave the view across the hudson that magical blueish magenta tint to it. We ended up stopping off at a rest stop in New Jersey which overlooks the city and the view was beautiful. It actually reminded me a lot of Monet's painting, which seemed rather serendipitous:

This last picture is just for fun. I sat on the edge of this triangle rock attached to the cliff and made sure to not fall off. Below me is an extremely sharp drop off, and as I looked over the edge I tried not to picture myself slipping and falling to my death, which was hard not to do:

Overall, it was a great day and makes me love New York even more than I ever thought I could. It's definitely home to me.

Sneak Peak

2011-05-31T16:00:00.002-04:00

I started another bottle painting, but this time am focusing more on losing control and just letting the painting evolve into whatever it may be. It's 18 x 18, and just started, not much time has been put into it yet, but I think I like where it's going.. wherever that may be, haha. It kind of reminds me of a memory that's only half remembered, or only half forgotten, depending on your outlook.

New Studio Space!

2011-05-24T21:35:00.002-04:00

This summer I'm lucky enough to be sharing a 2,000 square foot space with Barbara Fiore, and my brother Paul. This place used to be a dance studio where I actually took ballet lessons way back in the day. Having been vacant for quite some time, we were able to rent out the space and over the past few weeks have been tirelessly moving in and turning it into a full fledged studio space. This is my corner of the room and I'm really excited to have a little (and by little I mean rather large) space to be productive and get working on a new series of work. More to come soon...

Open Studios!

2011-04-11T10:00:00.001-04:00

Illustration and Cartooning Open Studios! One night only! Don't miss it! There will be awesome work by awesome people, and of course... refreshments.

click to enlarge

Some new stuff

2011-03-30T14:29:00.002-04:00

I've been doing a bad job at updating as frequently as new work is made....but life always seems to get in the way. Here are a few new pieces from the easel...

Breakfast, 12 x 12 inches, oil/canvas panel

Strawberry No.1, 5 x 5 inches, oil/canvas panel SOLD

Strawberry No.2, 5 x 5 inches, oil/canvas panel

Strawberry No.3, 5 x 5 inches, oil/canvas panel

Strawberry No.4, 5 x 5 inches, oil/canvas panel

Strawberry No.5, 5 x 5 inches, oil/canvas panel

Single Fare

2011-03-04T19:41:00.002-05:00

I decided that this year I wanted to submit some pieces to the group exhibition Single Fare. So as you might guess, these 4 are painted on the backs of metro cards! What a fun NY event, right?

Small Winter Landscapes

2010-12-27T15:06:00.003-05:00

This year I was low on cash for Christmas presents.. At such times, art school really does comes in handy:

Winter 1, oil/canvas panel, 5 x 5 in

Winter 2, oil/canvas panel, 5 x 5 in

Winter 3, oil/canvas panel, 5 x 5 in

Winter 4, oil/canvas panel, 5 x 5 in

Three Red Fish

2010-12-23T00:54:00.000-05:00

Three Red Fish, oil/canvas panel, 5 x 5 in.

Scarlet Kiss

2010-12-23T00:53:00.000-05:00

Scarlet Kiss, oil/canvas panel, 5 x 5 in. SOLD

Mint Chocolate Bite

2010-12-23T00:52:00.000-05:00

Mint Chocolate Bite, oil/canvas panel, 5 x 5 in. SOLD

Candy Cane

2010-12-23T00:51:00.000-05:00

Candy Cane, oil/canvas panel, 5 x 5 in.

White Chocolate

2010-12-23T00:50:00.002-05:00

White Chocolate, oil/canvas panel, 5 x 5 in.

Sprinkled Pair

2010-12-23T00:49:00.005-05:00

Sprinkled Pair, oil/canvas panel, 5 x 5 in.

Rock Candy

2010-12-23T00:49:00.000-05:00

Rock Candy, oil/canvas panel, 5 x 5 in.

Raspberry Jelly

2010-12-23T00:48:00.000-05:00

Raspberry Jelly, oil/canvas panel, 5 x 5 in.

Paper Dots

2010-12-23T00:46:00.003-05:00

Paper Dots, oil/canvas panel, 5 x 5 in.

Pink Gumballs

2010-12-23T00:45:00.000-05:00

Pink Gumballs, oil/canvas panel, 5 x 5 in.

Shimmering Truffle

2010-12-23T00:44:00.002-05:00

Shimmering Truffle, oil/canvas panel, 5 x 5 in.

Lone Marshmallow

2010-12-23T00:43:00.002-05:00

Lone Marshmallow, oil/canvas panel, 5 x 5 in.

M&M's

2010-12-23T00:42:00.003-05:00

M&M's, oil/canvas panel, 5 x 5 in.

Solo Jelly Bean

2010-12-23T00:42:00.000-05:00

Solo Jelly Bean, oil/canvas panel, 5 x 5 in.

Wax Bottles

2010-12-23T00:41:00.000-05:00

Wax Bottles, oil/canvas panel, 5 x 5 in.

Liquorice Wheel

2010-12-23T00:40:00.000-05:00

Liquorice Wheel, oil/canvas panel, 5 x 5 in.

Gummy Family

2010-12-23T00:38:00.002-05:00

Gummy Family, oil/canvas panel, 5 x 5 in.

Four Chicks

2010-12-23T00:37:00.000-05:00

Four Chicks, oil/canvas panel, 5 x 5 in.

Entangled Gummies

2010-12-23T00:36:00.005-05:00

Entangled Gummies, oil/canvas panel, 5 x 5 in.

Chocolate Nocturne

2010-12-23T00:36:00.004-05:00

Chocolate Nocturne, oil/canvas panel, 5 x 5 in.

Candy Corn

2010-12-23T00:35:00.000-05:00

Candy Corn, oil/canvas panel, 5 x 5 in.

Crushed Chocolate

2010-12-23T00:34:00.000-05:00

Crushed Chocolate, oil/canvas panel, 5 x 5 in.

Cracked Cordial

2010-12-23T00:32:00.000-05:00

Cracked Cordial, oil/canvas panel, 5 x 5 in.

Bitten Caramel

2010-12-23T00:30:00.002-05:00

Bitten Caramel, oil/canvas panel, 5 x 5 in.

Abc Gum

2010-12-23T00:23:00.000-05:00

Abc Gum, oil/canvas panel, 5 x 5 in

The Artist's Magazine

2010-12-05T17:19:00.000-05:00

One of my painting's is featured in the January/February issue of The Artist's Magazine! I placed 2nd in the student competition in the portraiture category. Go out and get a copy!

New Painting

2010-12-04T22:54:00.000-05:00

With a little encouragement I have started on my first really big painting. It's 36 x 36 inches, which to me, feels like I'm starting on The Sistine Chapel compared to the small 5 inch paintings I've been working on for the past month. However, I think this change of pace will be good. More to come soon...

In the studio..

2010-11-24T09:22:00.000-05:00

Most of these paintings need finishing touches but...

21 candies so far, click to enlarge!

Progress

2010-11-13T19:57:00.000-05:00

Some more goodies....

Confections

2010-11-07T17:28:00.001-05:00

For the next couple of weeks I will be working on a series of 25 mini (5x5 in) paintings of candy and chocolate. Here is a sneak peak....

My day off...

2010-10-28T13:29:00.001-04:00

It's been a good day so far. However I havn't been very productive yet... as you can see.

Up Before Sunrise

2010-10-23T13:30:00.001-04:00

I'm in Pennsylvania for the weekend so this morning my family went out together to do some photographing to catch the first light of the day. It was extremely cold but worth it, now looking through my pictures.

NOSH

2010-10-11T23:06:00.001-04:00

A lovely stranger looking at: "Two Pickles, Two Glass Dishes, One Tomato"

One of my paintings (as shown above) is currently in a group show at CultureFix Gallery on the Lower East Side. The show is called "Nosh" and is comprised of food related artwork. To see more photos from the reception and to learn more, check it out on The Village Voice Blog... yay!

Coney Island

2010-09-13T16:19:00.000-04:00

On saturday I met with Kelsey and Kady for a little day vacation to Coney Island. It was beautiful weather so we enjoyed the last vestiges of summer: sunbathing on the beach, eating italian ices, and laughing at the general atmosphere of the boardwalk. I snapped a few shots just 'cause I love all the color...

End of Summer

2010-09-07T21:55:00.001-04:00

Some photos I took on an early morning walk with Barbara and my dad last week. As you can see, it was very foggy, but that didn't get in the way of capturing some interesting/beautiful moments...

In other news, the end of summer is officially here as classes started today. I had a really positive 'first day back' expereince and I'm looking forward to everything starting anew. I expect to be pretty busy this year since in addition to my classes I will be interning two days a week at George Billis Gallery in Chelsea. My first day is tomorrow, so wish me some luck? More to come soon....

Self Portrait

2010-08-06T09:00:00.003-04:00

Water Patterns

2010-08-05T08:00:00.005-04:00

Symmetry

2010-08-04T16:40:00.001-04:00

Lake Sunapee

Damp Days

2010-07-28T21:50:00.001-04:00

Fruit Slices with Cherry Tomato

2010-07-25T22:56:00.002-04:00

Fruit Slices with Cherry Tomato. oil/canvas panel, 8x10.

I Spy...

2010-07-24T12:04:00.001-04:00

Happy 4th of July!

2010-07-04T16:23:00.001-04:00

New Hampshire

2010-07-01T20:42:00.001-04:00

Spent the last two days in NH visiting Barbara's dad, Ken. Luckily, Ken lives on a beautiful lake with a great view. I spent as much time as I could laying on the dock, staring at the sky and breathing in the clean air.

Two Pickles, Two Glass Dishes, One Tomato

2010-06-27T22:36:00.002-04:00

Two Pickles, Two Glass Dishes, One Tomato. oil/canvas panel, 12x12.

The only thing more difficult than actually doing this painting was trying to find a title for it. Maybe this is a sign that I should consider branching out to other glass tableware... teacups, cups, stemware? Could be interesting in my world.

Lemon Slices on Glass Dish

2010-06-20T21:32:00.005-04:00

Lemon Slices on Glass Dish. oil/canvas panel, 6x8.

Around 8 pm I decided to be a litltle productive. Five minutes before I sat down to paint, I cut up a lemon, and an hour and a half later... Voilà! Lemons on a dish.

Strawberry on Glass Dish

2010-06-19T12:55:00.004-04:00

Strawberry on Glass Dish. oil/canvas panel, 8x10.

Glass is one of my favorite things to paint because it's so reflective, which is great for playing around with juicy, interesting paint. The reflections, colors, and tones are both a challenge and a joy to interpret. After working on this small (8x10) and short painting, I have an idea for a series of paintings. My goal this summer is to have a small body of work that looks cohesive. Perhaps different fruits or solitary food items on glass dishes? I'm not sure what will come of it but I'm going to do a few more paintings like this and see where it takes me...

Lemon

2010-06-14T21:15:00.004-04:00

I really enjoy the colors and textures here... tasted pretty good too.

Dessert

2010-06-08T22:56:00.005-04:00

Had strawberry shortcake for dessert. So did Camy (naturally). Painting of the strawberry shortcake commences tomorrow......

Barbara's Portrait (finished)

2010-06-06T15:04:00.001-04:00

Barbara. oil/canvas panel, 12x12.

Camy

2010-06-05T23:39:00.001-04:00

Had a pretty lazy day. After my mid afternoon daze I decided to finish Barbara's portrait. I put a couple of good hours in and alas, it is finished. It's too late for me to think about photographing it so tomorrow I will share. For now, here is a picture of my dog for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy the cuteness.....

The only reason she is staring so intently to the right is due to a peeled banana dangling somewhere behind me as I took the picture. She is obsessed with food; her only true love.

Barbara (in progress)

2010-06-04T20:24:00.002-04:00

There were a couple of times last semester that I tried my hand at portraiture for class assignments. I didn't think I was half bad so here I am trying it again. If I keep this up I figure it may be a new avenue worth pursuing next year in my Portfolio class. This morning I had a mini photo-shoot with Barbara and here is what came of it:

painting at the kitchen table

my palette

The panel is 12x12, which is a nice comfortable size (not too overwhelming for a first attempt). The painting is still in progress with about 4 hours of work in. Tomorrow I'll finish it up, articulating the shirt as well as polishing up little details (earrings, hair...). I feel pretty good with the result so far, and what's more important is that it felt good to just paint again- to sit, listen to music, and think about nothing but putting the right shape and color down. Having a good painting session is probably one of the greatest feelings. Very rewarding.

California Trip

2010-06-02T23:23:00.003-04:00

A couple of weeks ago I went to California with Barbara for a week vacation of exploration. Our trip started in LA, ventured down to San Diego and ended in sunny Palm Springs. I really enjoyed the unfamiliar landscape (being my first time on the west coast) and pleasant beachy weather. When we weren't eating Mexican food (which was all the time), we did a lot of walking-- through desert trails, up cliffs, and over foot bridges. Along the way I made great use out of my camera, carrying it everywhere and photographing everything. I had a fun time playing around with a telephoto lense which my dad had lent me for the trip. I never knew how much I really enjoy taking pictures until now. So, here are a few photos from the week:

Now that I'm home, my mini goal is to keep on photographing. Hopefully some inspiration will come about to nudge me back into the groove of painting....

Fresh Start

2010-05-31T19:37:00.002-04:00

Hello everyone! So, this is my new blog where I'll be posting stuff that I see/do. This may include (but is not limited to): works in progress, thoughts, photographs and inspirational material...

Stay tuned and Enjoy.