Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Goesling.
Lisa, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
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, “You are my sunshine”, “I love you a bushel and peck” and “Tea for two” along with other songs from the 40’s and 50’s. I honestly thought that all parents performed for their kids, it wasn’t until I was older that I learned otherwise.
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 purpose. I discovered my favorite medium, Scratchboards, (by Ampersand Art Supply), while undergoing a cancer diagnosis in 2006. They were portable and all I needed was an X-ACTO knife to draw with. 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 evolves 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 from detailed elements from nature; sometimes I use them as inspiration in my abstracts.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I chose to major in graphic design at Northern Illinois University back in 1974. This was before they had done a major overhaul of the department, which now has a wonderful reputation. At the time though I was getting A’s but I really didn’t feel like I was learning much. I chose to finish my last two years getting an in-depth education at a small art school in Chicago.
I remember being drawn to the intimate setting at The Chicago Academy of Fine Arts and the fact that my instructors were working designers and artists. It was the oldest art school in Chicago at the time, even older than SAIC, although it has since closed. I could have done a much better job of investigating the legitimacy of the current institution’s standing. When it came time to graduate, we were all dealt a huge blow.
The dean of the school had been going through some severe mental issues that neither the students or the faculty were aware of. For the past couple of years, she had neglected to send any of our records to the state of Illinois, which meant that nobody in my graduating class had any record of having completed their last two years of college. It was devastating, no degree even though we had put in the work.
It took a little soul searching to realize that the degree did not define my ability to create. Fortunately, I had also been working as Public Relations Director at The Covenant Club of Illinois at the time, photographing their events, (I logged in a lot of hours photographing Mayor Richard J. Daley, a frequent visitor to the club) writing their newsletter, and designing invites, etc.
Luckily, I was in a visual field where a portfolio ultimately gets you the job, and frankly fortunate enough to meet employers who took a chance on me. I went from PR to publishing, art directing and designing art and travel books for Rand McNally & Co. I was able to build a portfolio with actual projects leading to a job in advertising, and ultimately to owning my own design firm.
I have grown children and have tried to teach them that it is never about what happens, but how you cope with what happens. I do try to impart that to young people entering the art world too, learn to be resilient. If you can do that, you can do anything.
Lisa Goesling Fine Art – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I mentioned that I discovered my medium while going through a cancer diagnosis. Ampersand Art Supply, located in Buda, Texas, creates Scratchbords. They are hard boards covered with a layer of Kaolin Clay (used to make Porcelain) and India ink.
Just a little background about Ampersand Art Supply and its owner, Elaine Salazar. When Elaine was an MBA student at The University of Texas-Austin, she was given a project to develop a business idea and present it to investors. She and her team were really struggling with ideas worth presenting and decided to think about it over winter break. Elaine went home to Colorado where she lived out in the country.
She looked up an old friend, artist Charles Ewing, (charlesewing.com) and found him in his shed working on his own version of a scratchboard. Charles had learned about them while he was serving in the Peace Corps documenting wildlife in Chile. Someone had suggested he might enjoy scratchboards, so when he returned home, he checked them out.
Charles didn’t like the existing material; it had limitations in terms of size, strength, and had to be preserved under glass. He set out to create a better board and his first attempt was a success. Charles applied clay with a binder to a hardboard then added some ink. The medium could get wet but never dissolved. When he showed it to Elaine she was awestruck and asked him if he’d mind if she introduced it to her team as a possible project idea.
He was fine with it, she went back to school, everyone loved the idea and they pitched it to the board of investors. After she finished with her presentation, one of the investors stood up and said, “Okay, I’m in!” And that is how Ampersand Art Supply and its signature Claybords were born. There is a population of artists who work in Scratchboard to varying degrees of success.
Charles is certainly a master, and there are a few others who have earned recognition using this medium. My approach is different than most, I use this untraditional support to microscopically examine nature and abstracts for their aesthetic value. I do not sketch first nor erase, enjoying the spontaneous energy that emanates from the boards. My hyper-detailed renderings evolve into exquisitely meticulous visions inviting the viewer to dig deeper into my art.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Being chosen as one of six artists for an artist residency through the Chicago Artists Coalition and the Merchandise Mart of Chicago. We were given a studio/gallery space at the Mart from 2010-2012. It was the catalyst for me transitioning from a designer/art director to a full-time artist and served as confirmation that I was on the right track.
My other proudest moment has to be when I was offered a solo exhibition at the Union League Club of Chicago. It is often referred to as the ‘second Art Institute’ because of its vast collection of famous art. To be able to show within such a prestigious space was a real honor.
Pricing:
- Ranges from approximately $750 for my smaller pieces to $6000 for my larger ones.
Contact Info:
- Address: 506 E Providence Road, Palatine, IL 60074
- Website: https://www.lisagoesling.com
- Phone: 847-977-3596
- Email: lgoesling@comcast.net
- Instagram: lgoesling
- Facebook: Lisa Goesling
- Twitter: @LisaGoesling
Image Credit:
Bruce Starrenburg
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