We were lucky to catch up with Lisa D’Amico recently and have shared our conversation below.
Lisa, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
My most meaningful project is my current painting series which is still in progress. I’ve called the series ‘Sonic’ because sound releases an avalanche of meaningful elements which are otherwise suppressed by silence. I’ve used traditional artistic techniques and themes of portraiture while giving historical female subjects contemporary voices. I utilized acrylic and resin paired with vibrant colors and abstract backgrounds for this artistic journey.
The paintings take the viewer on an exploration of women’s lives through different time periods, reflecting their strengths and the challenges they face. While I cannot re-write history, I am determined to push the boundaries of tradition in order to tell these stories from a female point of view. The outcome is a hybrid series that first captures the viewers’ attention with striking color and bold portraits and then makes them question who these women are and, more importantly, what lies hidden beneath.
Lisa, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I believe every new painting is a deep breath. A new beginning to tell a story using creativity. I am a working artist and curator. I welcome art commissions, speaking engagements, workshops and the opportunity to curate exhibits of any size, virtually or in person.
Translating and provoking emotions are the primary focuses of my artwork. I strive to reproduce the varied facets of feelings through my deep fascination with color and composition and the struggles that occur between them.
My creative process usually begins with a series of sketches, which serve as my inspirational catalyst to canvas, paper or wood. My techniques for the actual artwork often involve building up areas of color through the application of many layers of paint, latex, compounds and resin to achieve vibrant color effects and multitudes of texture.
I am an ivy league educated artist, curator and educator with Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Fine Arts in addition to a Doctorate in Education. I am also a certified art teacher with over 20 years teaching experience. I’ve been exhibiting my artwork since childhood and have received numerous awards and accolades along my journey.
In addition, I am the creator of the successful, annual small works exhibit, ‘Inside Small’ and the co-founder of The Bluefield Artists and the Rockland Arts Festival. I am also a published writer and I continue to dedicate my life and career to the arts and education.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
Whether I’m painting a portrait or a tree, there’s a part of my soul in it. Every brushstroke is a step towards self-discovery and tells my tale. One February night while I was painting in the art studio, memories of my father flooded my brain. I looked around at the painted garden I had created, and in my heart, I knew that this was ‘his’ garden. My father was a good person—kind, loyal, responsible, and trustworthy. I just never thought of him as a muse for my artwork.
My father and I were night owls and he’d text me jokes and I’d text him photos of my artwork in progress. Now after midnight, my phone was silent. The moment I had dreaded, ever since he was diagnosed with cancer, had somehow caught me by surprise. His decline had been so gradual that even the battery of tests performed by his oncologist barely showed a change during the first year. Then, suddenly, he was gone.
The memory of his funeral flooded with fragrant blooms remains in my mind and even though painting these flowers were an emotional challenge, they quickly became a comforting experience. So, now in my grief during the silence of the night, I paint flowers blooming under a moonlit sky. My father always told me to ‘Live your life’ and now my father lives on in every painted petal. All of the tragedies and joys of my life live on through my paintings. They give me strength, motivation and comfort.
How did you build your audience on social media?
Social media is redefining the art world and changing the landscape of how artists do business. At first I did the worst thing possible as an artist, I denied the change and held on tightly to the past. At the suggestion of a fellow artist, I begrudgingly attended an online marketing workshop for artists and it brought me into the 21st century. Now I lead social media workshops for artists throughout the year.
Thankfully, I quickly realized and accepted that social media could help my art business, give me access to a much wider audiences and even make sales easier. I write and post about my art journey and stay true to my aesthetic. I learned that it’s not about the quantity of followers but about the loyalty, engagement and support from my followers. Social media can create new, genuine relationships and inspiring encounters.
Social media’s biggest impact was giving me a blank canvas to pour my creativity into and represent my artistic self while reaching audiences I wouldn’t have otherwise. Throughout this new expedition, I’ve learned more about myself as an artist, digging deeper into the backstory of my artwork, creating new connections and motivating experiences. I recommend to each artist in my workshops to approach social media in a manner that’s most comfortable for them and never forget the lyrics of Frank Sinatra’s song, ‘I did it my way’.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lisadamico.net/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisadamicoartist/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisadamicoartist
Image Credits
Lisa D’Amico