Lisa Purcell
Nationality: US
Currently Living: Ouachita Mountains
Member Since: 7/9/2008
Lisa was born in Maine in 1965. She grew up in one of the most turbulent times in the nation's history. She also grew up in one of the most beautiful spots in the world. These early days, surrounded by so many people seeking to change the world influenced her deeply; even the music in that era served to provide her a sense of what the world should be. After graduating from the University of Maine she moved to Baltimore, MD where she found work as an artist's model and also a job at a local gallery. Her grandfather being an artist she had always been interested in art. But this closer contact with the art field sparked a desire to become an artist herself. As she has grown older she has lost some of that youthful idealism but still thinks it is important to bring joy to others, to encourage others, and to lift each other up.
For insight into the artwork:
Broadly speaking, there are two types of paintings: representational and abstract. A painting is called "representational" if it portrays specific, recognizable physical objects. In representational paintings it is easy to recognize what you are looking at. Abstract paintings are different. They have designs, shapes and/or colors that do not look like specific physical objects. Often, when you are looking at an abstract painting, you have no idea what it is you are actually seeing. In general, there are two types of abstract paintings. The first type of abstract painting portrays objects that have been "abstracted" (taken) from nature. Although what you see may not look realistic, it is close enough that you can, at least, get an idea of what you are looking at. A second type of abstract painting, sometimes referred to as "pure" abstract art, does not reflect any form of conventional reality: all you see are colors, shapes, forms, etc. Indeed, the word abstraction...simply means the act of drawing out the essential qualities in a thing, a series of things, or a situation. Over time, there has been a tendency for art to evolve - to become more and more abstract. I have noticed this in my own work. Originally I started painting botanicals which are purely representational but have moved towards an abstract style. Primarily I achieved this style by using richer and more vivid colors. My goal is to create images of great emotional intensity based on a careful study of the effects of color and composition. This is to heighten the expressiveness of my work. Instead of trying to reproduce exactly what I have before my eyes, I use color in an abstract way to express myself forcibly. I use colors that are exaggerated, more energetic, more expressive than those I actually”see”in my subject. I also greatly simplify the shapes and forms of the objects I am painting – bringing out only what is essential, integral to my subject. Additionally, I have begun to experiment with how pigments interact with each other, begun to use various medias together – sometimes in unconventional ways. More and more I have started paying attention to the physical qualities of the paint itself, its texture, color and shape. One of the roles of an artist is to create something that, when viewed by an observer, evokes unconscious feelings and emotions. The reason abstract art has the potential to be so powerful is that it keeps the conscious distractions to a minimum. Devoid of subject content found in the real world, the emotional connections with the work can only be made through its colors, shapes and forms. The viewer’s interpretation of what the work is about is born out of free association. This is the beauty of painting abstract art, each painting will unlock different emotions for different people.
Painting in Oil, Acrylic, Watercolor, Gouache, Pastels, and Mixed Media. Creating Found Art/Construction Sculptures and Mobiles using: Found Items, Odd Bits, Natural Ephemera and Recycled Objects.
