Hi, I'm Lisa

Sometimes our morning walks turn into longer-than-expected adventures.

For example, on this walk, we accidentally found ourselves on a trail that took us up a steep elevation gain to a lovely mountain pass.

While some inclines caused me to stop and "take in the view," as I like to say (because that sounds nicer than "stop to gasp for air and question your life choices"), the views at the top were absolutely worth it.

We only shared the trail with a lone mountain goat, birds, and an onslaught of pikas, all sounding the alarm as Paco zigzagged across the terrain.

People often ask what inspires my paintings, and it is absolutely this.

#hiking #mountains #hikingwithdogs #colorado #hikelikeagirl ...

Working on a 44" x 48" painting while living in a van sure was a fun challenge. 🤪👩🏼‍🎨

The first step was to create an easel that hangs from the van`s roof rack. It was a surprisingly simple solution, but one that allowed me to create a wide support while easily adjusting the height as needed.

The biggest concern was where to store the painting inside the van.

At night, I slid the large panel onto the dash and propped it on the headrests of the front seats. This kept safe and out of the way. I was so worried the panel was going to warp, but miraculously, it held its shape. 🙌🏼

Every time I moved it, I thought, "I should make a video of this," but I never did. 🤦🏼‍♀️

Relocating the panel from the dash to the bed where I could easily unload it from the rear doors was a comical act. Kneeling on my knees, I`d hold the panel flat overhead and take baby knee steps to the bed where I`d then slide the panel off enough to give me room to stand up and finish maneuvering it into place.

...it`s probably a good thing photographic evidence of that doesn`t exist! 😅

#vanlife #artist #artstudio #artcollector artstudio_post ...

I finally made it to See the Bristlecone Pines in Alma, CO and they did not disappoint.

A couple years ago, I was lucky enough to pass through the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest near Bishop, CA where the oldest tree in the world lives.

Some of the Alma pines are over 1000 years old, and their gnarled and twisted bodies captivated me - and all the chipmunks that live amongst them captivated Paco. 😅

#bristleconepine #bristlecone #trees #tree_magic ...

I’m so excited to finally share this painting publicly! 🎉

I want to introduce you all to ‘Mountain Magic’.

Some friends commissioned me to create this painting for them. It’s their favorite view – and mine, too! – from the Pennsylvania Gulch trail in Blue River, CO.

It was an honor to be allowed to paint such a cherished scene. I poured all my own awe and admiration for the view into it, and I absolutely love how it all came together.

The painting is 44” x 48”, which was the average size of my paintings before van life. I was thrilled to be able to work on such a large scale again, even if it did come with some fun challenges along the way. 🤪

I took a lot of photos and videos of how I maneuvered such a large panel inside the van, and I’ll be sharing those in the near future. 🙌🏼😁👩🏼‍🎨🚐

#art #acrylicpainting #landscapeart #artist ...

A few weeks ago we were lucky enough to return to one of my favorite hikes.

This time, we went farther than usual, which meant Paco got to swim in five different bodies of water instead of the usual two. 🙌🏼

Not a bad day for a dog – or his human. 😁

The wildflowers blanketed the meadows and provided bursts of colors in every direction. It was pure delight and I took far too many photos.

So much inspiration! 😍 ...

This painting sold before it even reached my online shop! 🙌🏼

I began working on this piece last July, while camped near Hood River, OR. It was one of my favorite campsites and we spent two weeks there, exploring everything within walking distance.

One particular sunset is what inspired this painting. A ruby light fell over everything and made the trees glow in jeweled tones.

I immediately sketched the scene and got to work – though I wouldn’t actually complete the painting until September.

It’s titled, “Hidden Splendor,” in reverence for all those magical moments that can sometime slip by unnoticed.

Now, the painting hangs in Colorado in a bright, new frame and I absolutely love the way it all came together. 🥰 ...