We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lisa Myers a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Lisa , thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

Both my parents supported me throughout my life. I went through many frogs(careers) to get to my prince(artist). After a couple of years in college, I was chomping at the bit to get out there and begin making money. First I decided at 22 to get my Real Estate License, that was the early 80’s when interest rates soared much higher than even today. I found my niche in new home sales. After too many weekends. I worked for Honeywell designing security and fire alarm systems, both residential and commercial. I then met my first husband and retired to raise his 2 children. We had full time custody. After both kids were established , I went back to Old Dominion and completed my degree in Art History. Throughout the years I channelled both my parents, my mother was a creative, watercolor, interior design and floral arrangement. My father was a builder and was creative in his own right, always able to aid in any conundrums I faced through this time. Both my parents were gone before I started painting in 2015, but their work ethic and can do attitude helped me persevere. My sunny outlook, which came from both of them, came in handy when beginning to show my work. Our family was of the mindst, you fall off a horse, get back up and ride! .

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I was never trained as an artist. I had a bike injury and could not drive for 6 months, so I figured it would be an opportune time to start experimenting with visual art. I set up a studio space in one of the upstairs bedrooms, soon taking over another, and started putting paint, ink, charcoal and any other marking materials into my work. I devoured YouTube videos, and started a few online courses. In 2018 after 3 years, we moved to St. Aug and started meeting other artists. Still not showing, I was asked to allow a videographer to film my studio and that really started the ball rolling. I did a few pop up shows and was hooked. 18 months later I went into partnership with Laura O’Neal and opened ArtBox. That was in November of 2019, 3 months before Covid. Throughout the last 3 plus years, I am proud to say ArtBox is a thriving hip art gallery and continues to offer local artists a place to show and share their work. I enjoy mentoring other self taught artists and hear their journeys down this path called ART!

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

In March of 2020 right when Covid was just rearing it’s head, I came down with a blood infection, that attacked my spinal column, I was in ICU on a ventilator for 10 days, hospital for over 2 weeks. My neck had to be fused and I was prescribed IV antibiotics for another 8 weeks. Very weak, it was imperative for me to build up my strength, to not only return to my studio work , but to also return to ArtBox and continue the dream of owning a successful Art Gallery.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

First I believe all people are worthy of respect, no matter their lifestyle. Here I can commend my parents for their example of inclusion. They had friends who were living heterosexual and homosexual life styles back in the 60’s. This was long before “any movement,” these friends were just simply creatives, and the more the merrier. I have always felt the same way, and hope this divisive stance many in this country have adopted is short lived!

Also I feel, the more local people educate themselves to the process and familiarize themselves with the local artists scene, the more they will be inclined to buy local.

Contact Info:

• Website: lisamyersart.com
• Instagram: lamyers11 Instagram
• Facebook: Lisa Myers Art