Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Goesling.
Lisa, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
My love of art started very early, inspired by my parents, Audrey, a fashion illustrator, and Sam, an attorney. Dad was the son of immigrants who put himself through school singing at weddings, etc. He and Danny Thomas used to perform for the troops during World War II. Growing up, my four siblings and I we were the beneficiaries of their many talents. They routinely put on shows for us singing and dancing, I honestly thought that all parents performed for their kids.
One of my earliest art memories is of selling my homemade coloring books to kids in the neighborhood. My feet didn’t even touch the ground while I sat behind my little snack table filled with hand drawn books. Kids would snatch them up and then I’d run back inside to make more.
Creativity was encouraged growing up which was a good thing because I didn’t much care about academics. All I really wanted to do was to create. I got the chance to do a lot of that at age twelve when I began taking classes at School of the Art Institute (SAIC). Riding the Howard El to the city was an adventure in itself, and then I would enter this world of endless possibilities! I began to form my foundation as a visual artist through drawing, painting and sculpture. We were allowed to wander the Art Institute after class and I always found myself immersed in the art from Ancient Asia. Using nature as their muse, they layered details and textures creating a lyrical sense of movement. It is still one of my favorite destinations in the museum.
When it came time to go to college, I felt like I’d devoted a lot of energy to my pursuit of fine art and decided to major in graphic design. My years spent in design and art direction had a strong influence on the way that I approach my art, particularly composition and my use of the humble line. You’ll find all of the fundamentals of design in my art… pattern, texture, shapes, dimension, form, repetition and movement. Owning a design firm for years gave me the tools to approach my art career with the same sense of professionalism.
I discovered my favorite medium, Scratchbords (by Ampersand Art Supply), while undergoing a cancer diagnosis in 2006, they were portable and all I needed was a simple tool. Getting lost in the details transported me to a better place. I am still drawn to the sheer wonder of dragging my knife into the layers of ink and clay, witnessing the board slowly evolve into a sophisticated work of art. I continue to enjoy the spontaneity of jumping right in and seeing where it leads me. Sometimes I create detailed elements from nature; sometimes I use them as inspiration in my abstracts.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
People often come up to me at my exhibitions and say, “I am in awe, your details are absolutely exquisite”. It is pure joy for me to see someone as excited viewing my art as I am creating it.
Ampersand Art Supply, in Buda, Texas, produces these incredible boards covered in clay and India ink. I order custom sizes all of the way from 4”x4” to 72”x72”.
All I do is drag my X-ACTO knife into the layer of ink, varying the amount of pressure to create values, and then suddenly the image appears in the clay. Sometimes I paint with colored inks and acrylic paint at the very end of the process.
Nature serves as my muse, a leaf eaten away by bugs and time, the stained glass patterns of a dragonfly’s wing, layers of gills holding up a mushroom cap, one flower petal folding over another. My series, Environmental Movement, is influenced by Eco-Psychology, the study of emotional connections between humans and the natural world. My art produces the same sensations of wonder, harmony and timelessness that we experience while connecting with nature.
Another series, Spontaneous Combustion creates the illusion of 3 dimensions by layering line over line. Relying heavily on my discoveries of the natural world, I intertwine abstract shapes with elements from nature creating exciting designs that wind their way across the page.
While some artists prefer to take a minimalist approach, I am consumed with digging deep into the details. The more attention that I give to my art, the more attention it receives. Collectors tell me that they find something new in my art every day.
Artists rarely, if ever pursue art for the money. Nonetheless, we all have bills and responsibilities and many aspiring artists are discouraged from pursuing art due to financial reasons. Any advice or thoughts you’d like to share with prospective artists?
Earning a living at art is challenging. I consciously chose graphic design as a career so that I could earn a regular income and still create fine art. I am now a full-time artist.
All artists rely on design when creating, they may not know it, but composition, pattern, contrast, texture, repetition, and of course, line, play a key role in what we do. Being paid to do something that will strengthen your art career is a huge plus.
Anything that forces you to interact with people is also great. When you have to conceive, defend and sell an idea, you are gaining life skills that will translate into promoting your art. There are a lot of talented artists out there but they don’t know how to communicate. Gaining confidence by working in or out of a related field will spill into your career as an artist. Most of us have the luxury of social media, connecting us to art lovers across the world. Your website should reflect the quality of your art, making it easy for people to find you throughout social media and keeping people up to date on your art career.
If you aren’t earning a living exclusively creating art, the key is to work at a job that you value, something that leaves you with energy to create in your free time. Hopefully you will develop a following that enables you to ultimately work more at your art and less outside of the studio.
Staying engaged in the art community is crucial. The more openings you attend, the more connected you are with other artists; the more you will be kept abreast of upcoming opportunities. I find that other artists are the best way of making valuable contacts, be it galleries or collectors. Just like paying attention to the details in my art, I pay attention to people and am drawn to artists who show integrity in both their art and the way they navigate the art world.
One caution that I would like to add is that artists tend to fall prey to scams. Someone shows interest in your art and you get so excited that you lose perspective. It is important to take a deep breath and make sure that you do your due diligence in finding out who/what/where is involved with the exchange of your art for compensation. There tends to be a disconnect between the value of what an artist does for work vs. for instance what a doctor or a lawyer does. It is not less important to create a thing of beauty then to try a case in court or fix a bone. You need to ‘own’ your valuable place in society. I’ve said this many times and I will say it again, Art is the first thing to be dismissed, and the only thing that lasts.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
The 2018 Rockford Midwestern Biennial June-September
The 2018 Evanston + Vicinity Biennial: August-September
Gallery 19 in Chicago: September-October 2018 (represented by Gallery 19)
Vivid Art Gallery in Winnetka: October 2018 (represented by Vivid Art Gallery)
Saatchi Art
Hofheimer Gallery, Chicago: May 2019
Freeport Art Museum: August-October 2019
Contact Info:
- Address: 506 E. Providence Road
Palatine, IL 60074 - Website: www.lisagoesling.com
- Phone: 18479773596
- Email: lgoesling@comcast.net
- Instagram: lgoesling
- Facebook: Lisa Goesling
- Twitter: @LisaGoesling
Image Credit:
Bruce Starrenburg Photography
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
