Friday, May 4, 2012

Paint Party Friday: Week 8, Year 2 Check In Featured Artist: Lisa Wright

image courtesy of Lisa Wright

Welcome to Week 8 of Paint Party Friday (Year 2) and to the next edition of our Featured Artist Series! (Would you like to be a PPF Featured Artist? Please click here for details!) This week we are featuring an artist from the UK who has been providing us with amazing eye candy and unbelievable inspiration** since the very first week of PPF. Please welcome Lisa Wright aka WrightStuff!

1) Please tell us a bit about your personal history with painting. (When did you start painting? How has your painting evolved since you first started?) 
When I was a little girl I loved to paint. I was always illustrating stories and creating little characters. As I grew into my teens I kept it up, but ironically it was the art education system that knocked the enthusiasm out of me. It was too much about passing exams and not enough about play and experimentation. I stopped enjoying it when forced to go down the same route week in, week out.

After that I gradually drifted away and my watercolours sat unloved in a box slowing drying up and turning to dust. Then, one day a couple of years ago, not long after I started my blog I picked them up again. I had a desire to illustrate my blog post with my own work and quite frankly I haven’t looked back since.

I signed up for online courses, joined art challenges, spent a fortune on supplies and became totally and utterly hooked! I know it sounds corny but it was a pivotal moment in my life – I found the part of me that was missing.

image courtesy of Lisa Wright

2) What are your favorite techniques, media, and tools to use in creating your paintings?  I absolutely love drawing and painting over an already existing background – whether it’s a book page, a collage or just a spread of colours. Layers fascinate me. This technique helps me stay loose too – as you’re never going to get perfection. It’s more about suggesting, more abstract. 

In terms of materials, I would say my prismacolor pencils, acrylics and oil pastels are always closest to me. I get very excited by blending! I am a mixed media girl at heart though and can never resist sticking seeing what happens if I add a bit of this and that to my pieces. The Kingfisher has a watercolour background, a mixture of Prismacolor and Inktense on his feathers and then an extra layer or two added in PhotoShop.
image courtesy of Lisa Wright

3) What is your favorite thing to paint? Why?  The most influential lessons I took came from Suzi Blu who showed me that actually I can paint faces and portraits have become my greatest love. I am trying to move away from them a little now as I almost hide behind them. I need to keep pushing myself. A little bird has been twittering away at my subconscious for a while to look at my feathered friends for inspiration – so that’s exactly what I did for the piece I created for this post.

4) What is your proudest painting moment and/or greatest painting achievement so far?  It’s when people have left comments on my art saying ‘you inspire me’. Wow – that really gets you in the heart. It took me a long time to believe what they were saying, but in the end it is what finally spurred me into opening my creative business – The Wright Brain Stuff. I firmly believe that without this supportive community there is no way I would be where I am now and I want to share that with others too. It’s the comments and love that shines through from this art tribe that kick-start my Muse every day.

I want to build a tribe through my course that can take flight with the inspiration and lessons I provide into their art and writing and soar – you’d best watch out in May because you might get hit by one of us zooming through the air!

image courtesy of Lisa Wright

5) What's next in your painting future? 
Well, I was thinking about a show at The Tate Modern – you’ve got to think big after all! One thing I’ve learned is that you have to have ambition or you won’t move yourself forward. Then you back up those dreams with a clearly defined set of goals. Launching my creative business is one step towards the place I wish to be. I’m dreaming of packed courses, art retreats, a book (or maybe even two!) and… you never know… one day… a show at the Tate Modern! Right now though, it’s running this first course.

** We also wanted to mention that Lisa has started a very fun, unbelievably motivational, extremely messy, and surprisingly therapeutic book club for creative souls!  (Kristin has joined and is having a blast!)

How PPF has influenced me? (I added this question in because I fear that Kristin and Eva would be too modest to suggest it!) (LOL Thanks Lisa - you were right!) 
I’m proud to say I’ve joined nearly every party since launch! For me, my tribe is a very important aspect of my inspiration. Sharing in each other’s work every week, learning from others and following their artistic journeys is artful soul food of the best kind! Thank you Eva and Kristin!

Thank you, Lisa!  Where can PPFers find out more about your exciting adventures?

You can find me all over the place.
Here’s my regular blog where I post my PPF entries every week and chat about creativity and life in general. You’ll find Twitter and Pinterest links from there too.

Here’s my new Creative Business blog/site where you can find out about my eCourse and my Book Group and read more blog posts. What can I say… I like to write…

It would also make me very happy if you Liked my Facebook page!

**Would you like to be a PPF Featured Artist? Click here for details!**

What another busy and vibrant party last week at PPF! Over 100 painters and partyers - Wow! And so many wonderful paintings - Awesome! Now, here is our check-in for this week's party:

Please make sure to use your post URL address NOT your blog home page URL address as there are many late visitors who get confused as to which post is for PPF when they arrive (after Friday) at your website. If you are unfamiliar with Mr. Linky, an explanation of how this tool works can be found on Week 1 and Week 2 Check-Ins.


Have a great week filled with fun, painting and partying everyone!

46 comments:

  1. oh what a wonderful interview!! Love Lisa's work!!!

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  2. Lovely portraits! Very nicely done, and the little bird is so sweet!

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  3. Great interview and I love that landscape soooo much... great to learn more about the fearless Mess leader.... that bookclub is such fun...xx

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  4. Happy PPF. Love to hear about every ones reason for painting and how they came to do so. I agree after blogging awhile everyone has really encouraged me to go beyond what I am used to doing and try new things. Lisa has it right. Dream big and work for it. Thanks Lisa.

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  5. Happy to be back with the PPF peeps. Great interview and beautiful work Lisa! Have a great weekend!

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  6. I love Lisa's work. She is definitely a pro. What a great interview. Love the bird. Happy PPF to all. Enjoy the coming weekend.

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  7. Lisa is absolutely a winner in my book. What a wonderful energy you have ! it is contagious and creatively alive
    Your pretty bird is great to look at

    - KAT-

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  8. Congratulations Lisa! I am such a fan!
    Kristin xo

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  9. Great interview. I can completely relate to what Lisa said about how formal study can sometimes stand in the way of inspiration. I always feel more inspired when I'm finding my own path and surrounded by other creative souls. Thanks to all of you for creating that kind of community!

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  10. That bird is gorgeous! I"m off of publish my post now that I've got the weekly link!
    rinda

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  11. Happy Paint Party Friday! Thank you for the interview, love your art Lisa! <3

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  12. Beautiful work. Absolutely breathtaking! I love reading about these different talented artists every Friday. Happy Paint Party everyone!

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  13. Extraordinary way of painting this week: with heat and leather. Happy PPF everyone!

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  14. Happy PPF everyone. I seem to have entered twice today, the second entry is the right link! Valerie

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  15. How beautiful! Especially the bird... the color combination is just perfect!

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  16. I love learning everyone's back story and Lisa is a wonderful artist and writer whose blog I enjoy visiting very much. I love the sound of her new messy book group although finding time for one more thing may prove difficult - if only I didn't have to work for a living!

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  17. I love Lisa work! Great questions, fabulous interview!! It's wonderful knowing what sparks the artist within and where they come from!!

    Hugs Giggles

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  18. Nice work! I didn't get through everyone last week - hope to reach a few more throughout this week x

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  19. What a wonderful range of subjects! Lovely work.

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  20. Great interview, honest and clear as his art, Lisa me has liked since I started to participate in PPF, by illusion qe puts inall their things. Greetings to all.

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  21. Love this interview, especially how Lisa expresses that art was the missing part of her "whole" being. I also find that without creativity, I am less alive! Lisa, you are indeed an inspiring artist:-)

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  22. Loving Lisa's interview she is such a fab writer and painter with some amazing ideas. x

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  23. Love visiting Lisa's blog and her work is always amazing! :)

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  24. Happy PPF!! Love Lisa!! Great to get to know more about this talented woman!! :)

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  25. I certainly got a lot of inspiration from Lisa's work. Great interview - and yes, girl, dream big. Why not The Tate Modern? Anything's possible!

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  26. Thank you so much for all your support everyone. Makes me feel all warm inside. I'll get round everyone over the weekend. Bit hectic here today - soon I'm off to a swanky party at the Empire Casino in Leicester Square London. Today is one long celebration!!

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  27. I totally relate to art education in schools. I quit too because of the testing and rigid rules you had to follow. It took the joy out of art! Love you stuff.

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  28. Just lovely to learn more about Lisa, thank you!

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  29. Great paintings and love the colors lisa uses and their value!

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  30. Wonderful and inspiring interview Lisa! Love the little birdie! Happy PPF! :-)

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  31. Great post! She's very talented. Thanks Eva and Kristin for all the work you do.

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  32. Wonderful to hear about your passion & love for your artwork and future goals, Lisa. The Kingfisher is beautiful.

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  33. Congrat Lisa, great interview and nice paintings. Happy PPF to all of you.

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  34. What lovely drawings and painting! :) Just now I realize that you should write a little history about youself when you are featured ;) I've written a little history about myself in my post.. :/ but ok.. now I know.. :))

    Congratulations to Lisa! A good work this :)

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  35. I LOVE your little bird. It is most beautiful.

    Now that I am retired I have more time to paint! yippee!



    Mimi Torchia Boothby

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  36. Linking up late (and I just realized I used the wrong post up with Mr. Linky). Here's the one for friday's painting:

    http://mygiantstrawberry.blogspot.com/2012/05/painting-day-day-4.html

    That's what I get for trying to rush.

    I probably won't be able to get to visit many blogs because I'm working all weekend, but I'll try to catch up eventually.

    Wonderful interview, Lisa! Love your art!

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  37. Wonderful featured artist! Love the background splatters!

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  38. Hi Kristin and Eva -- Thank you for hosting PPF for us. Everyone enjoys sitting down with a glass of wine, going to PPF to be inspired, learn new tips, products, stories and all. Blessings Terri

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  39. Lovely feature on Lisa..fabulous work and art as always!

    Victoria

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  40. Lisa, Lovely artworks and a great interview :)

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  41. Great work Lisa, I'll be popping over to like your fb page. :)

    Happy PPF!
    Jenny

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  42. Insightful interview - love knowing more about Lisa as I have followed her for a couple years now. I am participating in both her upcoming e-course (very excited) and her messy book group which is somewhat liberating!
    dana

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