Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Solomon.

Hi Lisa, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
How did my creative journey start? I think like a lot of people. I made things with my family – mostly my mom and grandma starting from a very young age. They both were adept at crochet and knitting and making things. I learned to fix things with my grandpa also early on. I think the willingness to take things apart and take chances, and trust that I can get something to work evolved from time spent with him. My dad inspired a love of research and the desire to understand not only what we easily relate to, but that which might be outside of our comfort zone. I’ve always been curious about how things work and art is often a way for me to understand the world around me and to invite others to a hopefully bigger conversation.

I am a hapa – my mother is Japanese and my father is Caucasian. This has also been hugely influential. It took a friend to notice that the idea of “hybridity” is simply in my DNA – but it’s something that has informed my practice from the beginning. I often mix materials and ideas that at first may not seem to belong together. I literally feel between spaces a lot and my work can reflect that. I also use my work to try and understand Japanese culture – something I’ve had less access to, but am somehow inherently drawn to.

I have been fortunate enough to become an arts educator and working with college students exploring art has been a means for me to stay engaged and inspired. I’ve also been lucky enough to become and author an illustrator – writing books and content that also allow me connection to a larger community.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I know very few people who have experienced a “smooth road”. On the one hand I’ve been very fortunate. I’ve been invited to show and share my work around the world. I’ve written books about subjects I’m passionate about. I am part of a lovely creative community that feels uplifting and supportive. But I’ve worked very hard over my 30+ year career. I think being a creative person in our culture is often glamorized but rarely really appreciated. It’s challenging to find a way to make a living and make art. Even if you are commercially successful, the path to this “success” is windy, unclear and never the same for anyone. There’s isn’t an A, B, C, D logical means to an end. Also often as an artist you are basically everything for yourself. You are the CEO, the accountant, the researcher, the web designer, the photographer – unless you can afford to hire someone or trade for services it all starts and stops with you. It’s a lot. If you add in friends and family, pets, a day job it becomes a lot easier NOT to make art than to make it.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
What do I do? I make things about subjects that interest me. I don’t think I specialize in anything really. Although I have become known for mixing materials – for utilizing things that are often regarded as “craft” facing in a more “fine art” context. And for challenging the notion that there needs to be an elitist separation between those two camps. Since writing my book A Field Guide to Color and the follow up Color Meditation Deck – I’ve also become known as a watercolorist and color theory specialist. Color is something that I’m quite passionate about. I think it’s funny that friends and strangers alike will send me color tests and games, or ask me to match colors. As I’ve become more known for Color Mediations – a practice that hopefully helps people find not only a meditative practice with painting, but opens the door for them to learn more about themselves, painting and color – I’ve also been more and more involved in promoting the idea that art really is for everyone. That art can be a beneficial practice for people regardless of if they are “professional” or “successful”.

In terms of my own work – I truly believe in “any means necessary” as an approach. So the work serves an idea. If that means an installation, a social practice project that involves the public, a series of agonizing self portraits, or very small paintings and drawings about the mundane – so be it.

I’ll leave it to others to determine what really sets me apart from others. It’s kind of hard to see that myself.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I live in Oakland. I have been here for quite some time and there are many things to love. The weather and access to big city conveniences is a major love. It rarely gets too hot, or too cold and we don’t have lingering all day chilly fog like San Francisco. I can go to Asian and Hispanic markets, eat amazing global food at some of the best restaurants. I can take breaks in beautiful scenery. I can drive 10 minutes to put my feet in the Bay. The art scene is inclusive – something that isn’t true of other big cities I’ve been to.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.lisasolomon.com
• Instagram: @lisasolomon

Image Credits
sarah deragon [photo of me]