The Artist, Lisa Wiertel, is based in Williamsburg, Virginia and is well known for her floral paintings. To find out more about Ms. Wiertel and her art, click the link below:
https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/lisa-koleszar.html?tab=artwork&deleteartworkid=
https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/lisa-koleszar.html?tab=artwork&deleteartworkid=
Interview #1: Artist's Development
January 14, 2018
How do you define a successful artist?
The definition of what I see as being successful has changed for me over the years. I used to think to be successful in my art that I would need to make a lot of money or receive public recognition. Those things are great don’t get me wrong. However, the economy ebbs and flows and if I determine myself as successful based on a dollar amount generated or whether I win an award then in the long run I will not be happy. My definition now of what it means to be successful is if I am true to myself and creating art that personally fulfills me while at the same time it being appreciated by others. When you are an artist, one is constantly in their own world with their own ideas. I find it very exciting to think of an artwork, design and complete it and someone loves it enough to compliment me on it or purchase it.
Do you think of yourself as a successful artist? Why or why not?
As far as society’s standards in terms of money, I am not a success. I am not supporting myself full-time with my art. However, events have happened to me over the years that makes me feel that I am successful. Having parents ask me to teach their children art is at the top of the list. I had a woman contact me about 6 months ago asking me if I could teach her daughter art. Her daughter wanted to go to art school and was looking for instruction. They had seen my work online and reached out to me. I took that as a huge compliment. Compliments from family and friends are always great but to have someone that I have never met and lives halfway across the country purchase your art makes me feel like I have talent and I am successful.
What education do you have pertaining to art?
I have an Art Studio degree along with an English degree from the State University of New York at Geneseo. After graduation, I have consistently taken classes and courses from professional artists to learn more. When I became a stay-at-home mom in 2000, I started taking an evening class with renowned Virginia artist James Warwick Jones. I had always excelled at drawing but knew little about painting. I continued taking classes with him for 7 years and he taught me a lot about painting and became a mentor to me.
How has your education affected your art?
I have learned more post-graduation from college than art classes I took in college. I believe I benefited and learned more from the college art history classes I was required to take than the actual art studio classes. I suggest to people interested in becoming better in their art to find someone that you admire that teaches classes and learn from them.
Did you have trouble with finding a way to publicize/display your artwork?
I do not have trouble to find ways to display my work. The problem is the strings attached to displaying my work in certain galleries or locations. I sometimes find that it isn’t financially feasible for me to exhibit in certain places due to the commissions charged by galleries. When displaying in galleries, a price must be determined by the artist which will make the art saleable while still making a profit for the artist. I have been involved in a lot of situations where I felt that in the long run I wasn’t compensated enough for a work I sold through a venue. I think that right now is an exciting time to be an artist because of the internet. It is easier for the artist to connect with a buyer interested in their work. Social media allows a mostly free way to advertise and market oneself.
How has being a wife and mother affected your art career?
This has been a huge challenge for me over the years. I have been the primary caregiver and educator for my 3 children. When my children were young, I had to fit making art around their schedules. It could be frustrating and at times I felt selfish because I craved that creative time that I needed. I would try to work a little every day even if it was for only 10 minutes. I remember being pregnant and trying to finish a painting for a contest deadline. I ended up going into labor 2 weeks early. I was determined to finish this painting because I had put so much effort and time into it. For a week, I held my infant son on my left arm while I painted and finished the painting with my right. I think back how crazy that was, but that painting ended up being selected for a festival poster.
I have tried to make my kids a part of my art journey. Many times, I would work on the kitchen table and have them work on something next to me. They have come to numerous gallery openings and my daughter has helped me at art fairs. I show them my work a lot and ask their opinions. I let them help me title my pieces. I never wanted them to feel like I was choosing to do my art over being with them.
Where do you see your artwork going in the future? (literally and figuratively)
That is something I think of often. I have accepted a full-time job as a children’s librarian and I often worry about how I can do this and my art. I need the stability of benefits and a job, but I know I will be unhappy if I cannot incorporate art in my daily life. One of the enticements of the library job is that the employer hired me partially based on art programs and activities that I can offer children and teens. I need to create my own work as well, so I always make sure that my bag of art supplies is always in my car so if I have free time I can flesh out some ideas or work on something. I have some ideas that I want to use my artwork by having it appear on more marketable items than paintings. I think this would be great passive income for me as well. As far as the creative journey, I still have a lot that I want to get onto canvas and paper and to share with others.
January 14, 2018
How do you define a successful artist?
The definition of what I see as being successful has changed for me over the years. I used to think to be successful in my art that I would need to make a lot of money or receive public recognition. Those things are great don’t get me wrong. However, the economy ebbs and flows and if I determine myself as successful based on a dollar amount generated or whether I win an award then in the long run I will not be happy. My definition now of what it means to be successful is if I am true to myself and creating art that personally fulfills me while at the same time it being appreciated by others. When you are an artist, one is constantly in their own world with their own ideas. I find it very exciting to think of an artwork, design and complete it and someone loves it enough to compliment me on it or purchase it.
Do you think of yourself as a successful artist? Why or why not?
As far as society’s standards in terms of money, I am not a success. I am not supporting myself full-time with my art. However, events have happened to me over the years that makes me feel that I am successful. Having parents ask me to teach their children art is at the top of the list. I had a woman contact me about 6 months ago asking me if I could teach her daughter art. Her daughter wanted to go to art school and was looking for instruction. They had seen my work online and reached out to me. I took that as a huge compliment. Compliments from family and friends are always great but to have someone that I have never met and lives halfway across the country purchase your art makes me feel like I have talent and I am successful.
What education do you have pertaining to art?
I have an Art Studio degree along with an English degree from the State University of New York at Geneseo. After graduation, I have consistently taken classes and courses from professional artists to learn more. When I became a stay-at-home mom in 2000, I started taking an evening class with renowned Virginia artist James Warwick Jones. I had always excelled at drawing but knew little about painting. I continued taking classes with him for 7 years and he taught me a lot about painting and became a mentor to me.
How has your education affected your art?
I have learned more post-graduation from college than art classes I took in college. I believe I benefited and learned more from the college art history classes I was required to take than the actual art studio classes. I suggest to people interested in becoming better in their art to find someone that you admire that teaches classes and learn from them.
Did you have trouble with finding a way to publicize/display your artwork?
I do not have trouble to find ways to display my work. The problem is the strings attached to displaying my work in certain galleries or locations. I sometimes find that it isn’t financially feasible for me to exhibit in certain places due to the commissions charged by galleries. When displaying in galleries, a price must be determined by the artist which will make the art saleable while still making a profit for the artist. I have been involved in a lot of situations where I felt that in the long run I wasn’t compensated enough for a work I sold through a venue. I think that right now is an exciting time to be an artist because of the internet. It is easier for the artist to connect with a buyer interested in their work. Social media allows a mostly free way to advertise and market oneself.
How has being a wife and mother affected your art career?
This has been a huge challenge for me over the years. I have been the primary caregiver and educator for my 3 children. When my children were young, I had to fit making art around their schedules. It could be frustrating and at times I felt selfish because I craved that creative time that I needed. I would try to work a little every day even if it was for only 10 minutes. I remember being pregnant and trying to finish a painting for a contest deadline. I ended up going into labor 2 weeks early. I was determined to finish this painting because I had put so much effort and time into it. For a week, I held my infant son on my left arm while I painted and finished the painting with my right. I think back how crazy that was, but that painting ended up being selected for a festival poster.
I have tried to make my kids a part of my art journey. Many times, I would work on the kitchen table and have them work on something next to me. They have come to numerous gallery openings and my daughter has helped me at art fairs. I show them my work a lot and ask their opinions. I let them help me title my pieces. I never wanted them to feel like I was choosing to do my art over being with them.
Where do you see your artwork going in the future? (literally and figuratively)
That is something I think of often. I have accepted a full-time job as a children’s librarian and I often worry about how I can do this and my art. I need the stability of benefits and a job, but I know I will be unhappy if I cannot incorporate art in my daily life. One of the enticements of the library job is that the employer hired me partially based on art programs and activities that I can offer children and teens. I need to create my own work as well, so I always make sure that my bag of art supplies is always in my car so if I have free time I can flesh out some ideas or work on something. I have some ideas that I want to use my artwork by having it appear on more marketable items than paintings. I think this would be great passive income for me as well. As far as the creative journey, I still have a lot that I want to get onto canvas and paper and to share with others.
Interview #2: Artist's Process
February 25, 2018
Where did/do you gain your artistic skills from?
I have always been artistic. When I was a young child, I was always drawing and creating things. Reflecting back I think that as you get older and you experience and learn more you grow as an artist. I also believe that if you commit to your craft you will improve your artistic skills over time.
Where do you draw inspiration from and how does it reflect into your work?
I get a lot of inspiration in nature and things I experience first hand when I am outdoors. I take a lot of long walks and see things that inspire my work. I might see a certain bird and the thought or image of that bird stays with me and soon I am putting into my work somehow. In the winter, I have a lot of bird feeders near my windows and it gives me the opportunity to watch different birds and how they move or sit. I also am very aware of color in the nature around me. I am always amazed at the sky before sunset and in my mind I always try to think how I can replicate those colors in art.
Do you use just one type of media in a work or do you sometimes use multiple?
I use multiple and I find a lot of satisfaction in my mixed media pieces. It gives an artist the opportunity to explore and discover what materials can work together and the effect that they have with each other.
What media do you prefer to use? Which media do you pair together?
I prefer mixed media. I like to combine something that I have drawn or painted with acrylic paints and mediums. I have also placed found objects in my paintings and used resin or a pouring medium to incorporate it in the piece. If I had to pick one medium to use though, I always go back to charcoal. It was something that I fell in love with when I was a teen and I like how when using it I feel really involved in the process.
What is your creative process? Do you sketch a design first or go straight into it?
I have done it both ways. If it is a commission piece, I usually draw a sketch or the idea out so I can show it to the customer and get their approval. I do like to sketch out my acrylic paintings on the canvas before I work. If I have a very detailed or technical drawing, I use the grid method to get all the proportions right. I find if I spend extra time working out all the design drawing elements before I paint then the painting process goes more smoothly. I have also just drove right into a project and that can feel great to do when you finish.
Where do you like to create and work?
Anywhere! I do have my own studio that is located outside my home. I always have my art bag in my car though in case I find myself somewhere where I can get a drawing in. I don’t like to waste time at all. So if my son is at violin, I often am in my car drawing. Same with doctor’s appointments. I also sometimes find myself at the kitchen table if I don’t want to go to my studio.
February 25, 2018
Where did/do you gain your artistic skills from?
I have always been artistic. When I was a young child, I was always drawing and creating things. Reflecting back I think that as you get older and you experience and learn more you grow as an artist. I also believe that if you commit to your craft you will improve your artistic skills over time.
Where do you draw inspiration from and how does it reflect into your work?
I get a lot of inspiration in nature and things I experience first hand when I am outdoors. I take a lot of long walks and see things that inspire my work. I might see a certain bird and the thought or image of that bird stays with me and soon I am putting into my work somehow. In the winter, I have a lot of bird feeders near my windows and it gives me the opportunity to watch different birds and how they move or sit. I also am very aware of color in the nature around me. I am always amazed at the sky before sunset and in my mind I always try to think how I can replicate those colors in art.
Do you use just one type of media in a work or do you sometimes use multiple?
I use multiple and I find a lot of satisfaction in my mixed media pieces. It gives an artist the opportunity to explore and discover what materials can work together and the effect that they have with each other.
What media do you prefer to use? Which media do you pair together?
I prefer mixed media. I like to combine something that I have drawn or painted with acrylic paints and mediums. I have also placed found objects in my paintings and used resin or a pouring medium to incorporate it in the piece. If I had to pick one medium to use though, I always go back to charcoal. It was something that I fell in love with when I was a teen and I like how when using it I feel really involved in the process.
What is your creative process? Do you sketch a design first or go straight into it?
I have done it both ways. If it is a commission piece, I usually draw a sketch or the idea out so I can show it to the customer and get their approval. I do like to sketch out my acrylic paintings on the canvas before I work. If I have a very detailed or technical drawing, I use the grid method to get all the proportions right. I find if I spend extra time working out all the design drawing elements before I paint then the painting process goes more smoothly. I have also just drove right into a project and that can feel great to do when you finish.
Where do you like to create and work?
Anywhere! I do have my own studio that is located outside my home. I always have my art bag in my car though in case I find myself somewhere where I can get a drawing in. I don’t like to waste time at all. So if my son is at violin, I often am in my car drawing. Same with doctor’s appointments. I also sometimes find myself at the kitchen table if I don’t want to go to my studio.
Interview #3: Artist's Critique and Analysis of My Work
May 2 , 2018
Does my art look successful to you?
I looked up the definition of “successful” because I wanted to make sure that I was answering your questions correctly! “ Successful-accomplishing an aim or purpose.”If we are going by the Merriam-Webster definition, then I would say that your week is indeed successful!
Why or why not? What advice can you give me to make it successful?
I can see that some of your assignments had specific goals that you were trying to reach. "It's What's on the Inside that Matters" is a piece that you created from a prompt and I think it is very successful. The actual drawing of the body is very well done. The color choices used for the “inside” are great. I really like this one!
The piece I like the most is “Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk”. I like the simplicity of it and I like the fact that it is not overworked. It is also drawn well. I like that you used complementary colors in it. It is very striking.
Some advice I can give you is to play around with the composition. In “Beauty”, you have used your reference photo using 3 different mediums and the drawing is great. I was kind of wishing that the vase was more off center. It’s easy to put the object in the middle and work from there. However, it can be a far more interesting piece if you off-center the subject and even make the foreground larger. The eye will travel around the work and it will create a nice off-centered balance to it. Before you commit yourself to paper, play around with the composition a bit. Since you had a reference photo you might like to play around and crop it different ways on the computer and see what looks good. This might be a challenge at first but you will get better. Look at some of the fine artists of the past in terms of composition. Some of your favorite works are most likely pieces that were created with thought regarding the composition.
Another piece of advice and I am giving to you(because I did this to at your age and it took me a LOOONNNNGGGG time to learn) is not to be afraid of going dark or making your colors darker. I look at my work from high school and college and my work was always drawn very, very lightly. Remember you have eraser at the end of that pencil! You can always lighten areas up if you make them too dark. Contrasts between light and dark can make a drawing that is merely good to great. Charcoal is a good medium to experiment with to see how dark vs. light plays itself out.
What do you like and dislike about my work?
I don’t dislike anything about your work, Amber. You are very young, and your style is going to change and grow as you get older. I see a maturity as your pieces progress down the page. I think you need to keep experimenting and find the topics and subjects that you want to create.
How would you describe my style?
You have a wide range of pieces reflecting many different techniques and styles. I was impressed by the Van Gogh picture. I knew it was him right away before I read the title. I see a realism bent to your work, but it appears that you have created some pieces organically which is hard to do!
What advice can you give me for my future projects?
Just keep on learning, reading and experimenting. Don’t expect every piece that you do is going to be your best piece ever. An instructor I had once told me that. It took a little bit of pressure off. Understand that there will be pieces that you create that you absolutely love and others that you are not so excited about. It doesn’t mean that they are not good but view each piece you do as a way to improve and learn more about your craft. Artists are their own worse critics. You might not think a particular piece is good but someone else might love it. Don’t be afraid to go back and revisit some of these pieces. You might pick them up in the future and see something that you didn’t see before.
What events would you recommend I attend that you have found to be useful, entertaining, or insightful?
Immerse yourself in art. Visit galleries. Go to artist openings. Study art history. T Look at different mediums and styles different than your own. All of this is FREE! Study with artists whose work you admire. If I could give you some advice it would be not to be afraid to move forward. Learn from what you have done. Don’t be shy and tell everyone that you are an artist even when you don’t feel very successful or talented. Always see and find the art around you in everyday life.
May 2 , 2018
Does my art look successful to you?
I looked up the definition of “successful” because I wanted to make sure that I was answering your questions correctly! “ Successful-accomplishing an aim or purpose.”If we are going by the Merriam-Webster definition, then I would say that your week is indeed successful!
Why or why not? What advice can you give me to make it successful?
I can see that some of your assignments had specific goals that you were trying to reach. "It's What's on the Inside that Matters" is a piece that you created from a prompt and I think it is very successful. The actual drawing of the body is very well done. The color choices used for the “inside” are great. I really like this one!
The piece I like the most is “Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk”. I like the simplicity of it and I like the fact that it is not overworked. It is also drawn well. I like that you used complementary colors in it. It is very striking.
Some advice I can give you is to play around with the composition. In “Beauty”, you have used your reference photo using 3 different mediums and the drawing is great. I was kind of wishing that the vase was more off center. It’s easy to put the object in the middle and work from there. However, it can be a far more interesting piece if you off-center the subject and even make the foreground larger. The eye will travel around the work and it will create a nice off-centered balance to it. Before you commit yourself to paper, play around with the composition a bit. Since you had a reference photo you might like to play around and crop it different ways on the computer and see what looks good. This might be a challenge at first but you will get better. Look at some of the fine artists of the past in terms of composition. Some of your favorite works are most likely pieces that were created with thought regarding the composition.
Another piece of advice and I am giving to you(because I did this to at your age and it took me a LOOONNNNGGGG time to learn) is not to be afraid of going dark or making your colors darker. I look at my work from high school and college and my work was always drawn very, very lightly. Remember you have eraser at the end of that pencil! You can always lighten areas up if you make them too dark. Contrasts between light and dark can make a drawing that is merely good to great. Charcoal is a good medium to experiment with to see how dark vs. light plays itself out.
What do you like and dislike about my work?
I don’t dislike anything about your work, Amber. You are very young, and your style is going to change and grow as you get older. I see a maturity as your pieces progress down the page. I think you need to keep experimenting and find the topics and subjects that you want to create.
How would you describe my style?
You have a wide range of pieces reflecting many different techniques and styles. I was impressed by the Van Gogh picture. I knew it was him right away before I read the title. I see a realism bent to your work, but it appears that you have created some pieces organically which is hard to do!
What advice can you give me for my future projects?
Just keep on learning, reading and experimenting. Don’t expect every piece that you do is going to be your best piece ever. An instructor I had once told me that. It took a little bit of pressure off. Understand that there will be pieces that you create that you absolutely love and others that you are not so excited about. It doesn’t mean that they are not good but view each piece you do as a way to improve and learn more about your craft. Artists are their own worse critics. You might not think a particular piece is good but someone else might love it. Don’t be afraid to go back and revisit some of these pieces. You might pick them up in the future and see something that you didn’t see before.
What events would you recommend I attend that you have found to be useful, entertaining, or insightful?
Immerse yourself in art. Visit galleries. Go to artist openings. Study art history. T Look at different mediums and styles different than your own. All of this is FREE! Study with artists whose work you admire. If I could give you some advice it would be not to be afraid to move forward. Learn from what you have done. Don’t be shy and tell everyone that you are an artist even when you don’t feel very successful or talented. Always see and find the art around you in everyday life.