Lisa Fertig - Artist Statement

Artist Statement

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I paint in two distinct styles, representational and abstract, which may at first appear irreconcilable, but are in fact two aspects of the same journey. For one, I venture out. For the other, I venture in. For both, the outcome is the same.

My representational work embodies my response to the environment, particularly to the countryside and to the shades, shadows, and colors of early mornings and late afternoons. As I paint, I recall and re-experience the peace and freedom of the open air as well as the spectacular and captivating qualities of the great outdoors. This meditative act of creating art about real places inspires and centers me in my life.

When painting in abstract, I travel inward, exploring and responding to progressions of thoughts and emotions deep within my mind. Free of visual constraints, these intangible introspective meditations take no recognizable form. Instead, they manifest themselves as successive, unfolding, and spontaneous adventures in color, texture, and composition.

No matter how or what I paint, whether the inspiration comes from within or without, the destination remains the same. I achieve relative moments of closure, of completeness, and of peace. Most importantly, my art affirms my belief in the oneness of body, mind, and the world in which we live.

Artist Biography:

The desire to create has been instilled in me since early childhood. I grew up in Duluth, Minnesota where I learned to appreciate the beauty of nature and the changing of seasons.

I received formal training in the Fine Arts Program at the American Academy of Art in Chicago, Illinois with further study at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis College of Art and Design and Atelier Lack in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I have belonged to many art groups and served as Workshop Chair of the Northstar Watercolor Society in the Twin Cities, where I received additional training under nationally renowned artists.

I work in watercolor, acrylics, and oils and have produced a substantial body of work in a number of categories including landscapes, still lifes, and abstracts. My experience also includes work in graphic design, in particular, having my work licensed in the greeting card industry.

My art is shown in galleries throughout the Minnesota area, has received awards in competitions, and is held by numerous private collections, businesses, and corporations. Commissions, teaching, participation in art fairs, and gallery representation keep me enthusiastic about painting. I live in Arden Hills, Minnesota with my husband and three children.