We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lisa Cardenas-Ludolph. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lisa below.

Alright, Lisa thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you?

About two years ago, my art studio shut down due to Covid. Shortly thereafter, my husband and I purchased a home in Oak Point, Texas and he started talking about his idea of building a studio for me in our back yard. At first, I was skeptical and incredulous! OMG! It was hard for me to picture it even after my husband showed me some sketches he had in mind. I just couldn’t get my arms around it until he drew it up in AutoCAD as well. I really couldn’t believe it until we started digging the holes and mixing the concrete for the piers by hand. We’re not quite halfway done but we are well on our way to having an interestingly design art studio. I feel so fortunate to have a husband who supports what I do! How blessed am I to be receiving a place to do my work. We are definitely not construction experts and have had a few hap-hazard moments. The beams which sit on the piers for the foundation are 32 feet long. We made the mistake of assembling the first beam on the ground. Very proudly, we stood over it until we realized that we needed to lift that behemoth 450 lb. beam into place, six feet off the ground! Just the two of us! (LOL!) It is a miracle that we were able to maneuver it into place without any injuries. Once finished, we laughed hard and high-fived and realized we make a pretty good team!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

After my husband passed in 2015, my studio became my place of grieving, solitude and the place where I found strength to move forward without my best friend, companion and love. He was so supportive of my work by helping me get through 8 yrs of my undergrad and Master’s in Art. I would not be an artist today had it not been for the love and friendship we had. I am so grateful for his thirty plus years of love and support he gave to me and my three daughters. My artwork is unique because of several diverse abstract styles and fluid expression. One of which I’m known for regionally, and that is a layer removal technique called “sgraffito” . This technique is one in which you add layers of paint onto the canvas and scrape the paint away to give it a different look and texture revealing the layers and colors underneath. The second technique involves a more expressive and active motion all in one stroke. Last, the third technique is a more of an imaginative dreamscape.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Unless you’re a celebrity, a social media following takes discipline. I have found that I must keep up with Instagram on a daily basis or I lose followers. Instagram allows me to share my artworks to many viewers allowing them to respond by liking or giving comments about my work. I find this app beneficial because I am able to follow what I am most interested in and vise versa. Instagram hashtags are great entryways into multiple audience fields. An example would be if I posted an artwork using the Hashtag – #artist. I am now streaming my art to an English speaking audience that follows that tag. But if I also use the Hashtag – #artista, now I have entered the Spanish-speaking audience. I have found that if I create (for example) a blue-colored painting, there are people that love my work specifically because they love the color blue. And those blue-loving people can be found at Hashtag- #blue. Type in a hashtag in the search bar and Instagram will tell you the number of followers for that specific hashtag. Instagram has been a useful tool by providing good avenues for exposing my work to people that otherwise would never have the opportunity.

Instagram or any of the online social media are give and take. I learn so much about other artists and their amazing progress as well as my other followers. I don’t just count followers. I engage with them. I spend much time reviewing their posts., liking and commenting when I can. This discipline seems to be the best method of acquiring and maintaining loyal followers.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

One thing I have encountered about my non-artist friends and family is the fact that my art is not just really cool stuff to sell. It is my inner self on canvas. It’s my passion and world around me coming out in my works. It is very difficult for me to be interested in marketing and selling my art. Thus the business side of art is a constant struggle for me . I’m not painting to make pleasing and easily marketed art. The art comes out from within me. I paint because I have to. I have always thought that if the art is good – it doesn’t need help. It simply sells itself.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.lccontemporaryart.com
• Instagram: lisacardenas325@Instagram
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/lisa.cardenas.1238
• Twitter: lisacardenas325@escapist325

Image Credits
Lisa Cardenas, Patrick Ludolph,