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

Lisa, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Alright – so having the idea is one thing, but going from idea to execution is where countless people drop the ball. Can you talk to us about your journey from idea to execution?

Colorado native, I became a professional nature, wildlife, and fine art photographer. I love nature and wildlife so my main subjects are related to them. In 2009 I decided to combine my photography with fine art. So I created my process of using wood carving tools and an engraver to hand etch on my photography. To start I began experimenting with various objects such as sewing needles and macrame T pins to scratch off the ink in various places on my photos. I wanted to create more, depth, light, texture, and a 3D effect. I was pleased with the results but I found the needles and pins had a potential of injury. So I started using wood carving tools whick work well. And I found that a jewelry engraver was also excellent. Both are the main tools I use now.

In the painting and photography medium worlds, it has been written that I am a “pioneer forging new ground.” In so many ways this is true. When I created my process it was before alternative processes in photography existed. And photo programs where you could alter photos were just being offered. So photographers and painters were sometimes my hardest critics. They didn’t understand why or how I was doing my process. To be fair some did support me. But I’d just tell the objectors, to try to be open minded and remember what the great master photographers and painters in history went through when they created new forms of their work. Thankfully the general public has always loved my work and that’s what matters the most to me.

My etched photography won 20 international photography awards and several nationally. It has been published in magazines and books both internationally and nationally. One of my proudest accomplishments was when I was a featured artist on PBS ( which can be seen on my website and Youtube). The program started in Denver then aired nationally.

My etching process will continue to evolve and since I’m the creator I can make or break my own rules. Now beside etching I paint on some of the work. I will be etching other subjects beside wildlife and nature if that is what a client requests.

The road to creating a new art form at first can be rocky. But with determination and a love for your work those feelings will get you through and the journey is so worth the time spent to becoming successful.

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?

When I was 2 years old my mother said I was telling people I was an artist! My parents were artists but not professionally. So all of my childhood I was creating some form of art along with them. Artists run on both sides of our family. I’m proud that my great uncle who was Norwegian, illustrated the Norwegian versions of several of Hans Christian Anderson’s famous fairy tales. And when I created my etching on photography process the idea literally came into my head one night. I wondered where this idea came from since I hadn’t seen anything like my etching before. Years later I discovered that my great uncle etched on copper which was run through a press to print in books. I have 2 of these books which I will treasure forever.

In 2010 I became ill with 2 life threatening illnesses. I told the radiologist I was not going to die because I wanted to continue my artist journey. No way was I going to stop etching and working to become successful and sell my work. When I was recovering my doctor said I saved my own life by fighting for my art ( and to be with my son and elderly mom). So my love for art helped to bring me back so I could continue what I love most. When times get tough like during Covid and the endless days of isolation, creating my etched photos was my comfort and hope.

I tell potential buyers if they purchase my work it will always be a lovely conversation piece. It will be fun when people they show will say they’ve never seen my process before. And my client and tell them my story ( which I print to go along with every sold piece. Its important to have the history of art to pass down to future generations). I put my heart into each piece and my hope is it will create peace, love, enjoyment, inspiration, and a sense of wonder, as it hangs in a home, office, medical building, hospital, anywhere you wish.

My works make wonderful gifts for any occasion. I can etch just about any subject a buyer requests. I’m even thinking of etching the outside of a home. I’m easy to work with and great with design and detail. This is what I do for a living. You can contact me through my website and I will answer within 24 hours. I look forward to working with you, and etching a beautiful work of art that you or whoever you purchase for will treasure for a lifetime!

I love commission work and I’m willing to work with clients decor and taste on whatever subjects I can etch that interest them. The smallest work I do is 16″ x 24.” The largest is 30″ x 34″ But I’m willing to do larger if a client wants to fill a big space in their home or business.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

Yes I wish I’d checked more into social media like Facebook, etc. When I started my creative journey it was 2009 and there weren’t as many social media choices as there are now. I am always on the hunt for resources to present and expose my etched photography. Art isn’t an easy medium to make a living. But if art talent is in your DNA an artist feels driven to be successful at what they feel they do best.

Have you ever had to pivot?

During Covid trying to sell my work the conventional way did not work. Art shows and exhibitions closed and are just now slowly getting up and running again. My work was usually in several of these every year. Then online sales dropped because I could go to a post office or UPS due to the isolating we all had to do. So I would meet my collectors outside of my home studio and show them photos of my latest works. We wore masks and somehow communicated well enough for us to do business. I also put work outside on my porch and had outside shows of my own. This didn’t give me enough sales to pay all the bills so I had to supplement with other work. But it kept me partially in the art loop so I didn’t lose my steady clients.

I am now trying to regain more and more sales so I can go back to selling work full time. So I would sure appreciate any sales generated due to this article!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.lisagarnessart.weebly.com
• Facebook: Lisa Garness Mallory–send me a friend request to see my work
• Youtube: Search: Lisa Garness Mallory
• Other: I am in the process of joining all of the social media I can so stay tuned!