DPW Spotlight Interview: Lisa Grizaniuk

Each week we will spotlight a different DPW artist who will give away one of their best paintings. To enter to win Lisa's painting "All Set" go to Daily Paintworks and click on the link at the top of the page announcing their interview.

From Lisa's DPW Gallery Page:

Lisa has been painting since a young age and knew very early in life that she simply had to be creative. She often works in acrylic but works in several different painting media as she was classically trained. 

Welcoming commissions, she enjoys working with those who want to have a work for their home or office and walking them through the process of a commission, large or small.

instagram @bancroftandtheorchard

All Set
(click to view)

Enter to win by clicking on the link at the top of the DPW home page announcing Lisa's interview.

Tell us a bit about how you first started painting.

I first started painting as a grade school student in a Saturday morning drop in class that I was able to attend with a good friend. I had taken lots of classes as a child, I grew up in a city that has a world renown museum and spent a lot of time inside.

The gentleman who ran the program didn’t even think twice about handing acrylic paint to someone who very well may waste it. He addressed me with a confidence in me that I had talent. It made me feel like I was on cloud nine. I was a kid. Too young to even babysit. He worked with me and spoke to me as if I was an equal. It made me think I stood a chance.

Peonies
(click to view)

Did you have any stops and starts in your painting career?

My stops and starts were life changes: It would not have mattered what my career was, it would have hit a pause. But as all parents know, totally worth it. The other times I had a rough time were times I wasn’t selling a lot of art and galleries were struggling. A recession is a recession and people can’t buy art when they can’t pay rent or a mortgage. It’s tough to stay positive when nothing is selling. Especially for months at a time. But...

What mediums and genres have you experimented with?

I love to paint, I paint in oil, acrylic, and watercolor. I appreciate my traditional art education but have found acrylic works well for me. I’m mesmerized by color. Totally mind blown.

English Teacups
(click to view)

Which ones have "stuck" and which ones have fallen away?

I’m all over the place for genre, florals are definitely enjoyable as I like to garden myself. There’s something about painting a tomato that centers me and I think it offers many challenges that aren’t always apparent at first glance. I love cadmium red. It’s a go to for me.

Who or what inspires you most?

Some inspiration may come from a bunch of flowers from my yard (or the market) but can also pop up looking at a field with a barn that’s screaming to be painted. It’s a combination of color, texture and light. I just never know when something will click. But when it clicks, it clicks and good music is a must. The creative process cannot begin in me without it.

Teacups and Berries
(click to view)

What techniques work to ensure that you make time for your art?

Making time for art isn’t easy but certainly denotes a rhythm for me that cannot be replaced by anything else. Flowers cannot grow without water and for me it is a similar feeling. I have to be creative, it’s like breathing. It gets easier as children get older but it needs to be a time carved out each day. Something is better than nothing. Beggars can’t be choosers.

How do you keep art "fresh?" What techniques have helped you avoid burnout and keep your work vibrant and engaging?

There are times everyone has burnout or needs a recharge. At times I’ve done workshops, taught classes myself, or just found another outlet to be creative to find a new inspiration. It always works out.

One of the ways I stay fresh is to pay attention to what I see as repetitive, both in myself and other artists. Some repeats are good and some are just the same mistakes. I like to shake it up.

English Arrangement
(click to view)

What makes you happiest about your art?

What makes me happiest about my art is that I’m able to do it. I’m grateful God gave me talent, I’m grateful I’m married to my husband who supports my art, and I’m grateful that I am able to paint when I have the time each day. There are a lot of talented people who have to do something more reliable for income because their kids need to eat. Talent is just the first step. It’s like anything else, one has to practice to improve. But that’s not as easy to facilitate for some as it is for others. Don’t think a single brush hits any paint without that thought going through my head. I’m very aware that I am blessed, and I consider the time I make art to be a form of prayer.

Thanks, Lisa!

© 2020 Sophie Marine