Lisa Perles

I'm a painter, mostly in oils but am exploring mixed media and watercolor and goauche. I'm fascinated by using sketchbooks as the playground to ideas and explorations as I experience a lot of artistic blocks and that canvas can intimidate. I'm striving to paint looser and less exacting. I find myself naturally gravitating to a very tight style and could use some real expressive mark making and experimentation to inspire.

I have plans to enter an MFA program but have a house full of kids so am limited at this time but have all the credits ready to apply. I'd like to develop a more sophisticated body of work for a portfolio review and find my style moreso.

I tend to be a overtly analytical artist and perserverate a lot over things in general. It's very challenging to keep the editorial self out of the process when creating and often I feel very stymied by it.

During lockdown here I bought a Strada plein air set-up and really want to get out more. While I'm not always down for that oil painting committment I find sketchbooks and quick urban scenes condusive to mark making w watercolors and fountain pens and I'm loving it. I think working fast and loose has been very helpful for me.

Recently, I was following a rabbit hole of illustrators of children books at the Bologna Book Fair and stumbled on artist Victoria Semykina whose art reminds me of yours. That sense of whimsey and ethereal reality with use of color and shape draws me in.

Looking forward to your class. Thanks, Lisa