We were lucky to catch up with Lisa Mounteer-Watson recently and have shared our conversation below.
Lisa, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
I have lived my life by embracing risk, the outcomes mostly successful and if not, a door is opened leading to a path that could lead to exciting unintended consequences.
I am an intuitive painter. That means that I don’t plan my paintings. I paint the way I live my life, taking risks, and following my heart. I have lived in seven different countries, the move themselves all involved risk. But the adventures, lessons and different cultures gave me great inspiration and personal as well as creative growth.
My paintings represent that sense of risk taking, a sense of a certain ebb and flow to our lives which frequently goes undetected in our thoughts, or in our physical environment. So, for example, we often make choices which have unintended consequences, as if some unseen hand is pointing us in a direction which is totally different to the one we are following.
While painting, I often allow the paint to flow where I hadn’t intend it to, so that the canvas begins to take on a life of its own. It takes courage and risk, to allow communication to take place between artist and canvas, allowing figures, features and spaces to emerge from the unspoken dialogue. It feels brave to paint over a coveted area for the sake of the whole.
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.
As a child, I found drawing and painting a place of great comfort and joy. But it wasn’t until age 48 or so, that I found the time to truly embrace my art. We moved to Oman, a place of great beauty. The landscapes awash with hot sunlight, the mountains burnt umber, the sea glinting turquoise. What artist would not be inspired by this! I began my journey into abstract painting, as figurative works were prohibited in being shown. I saw this as an opportunity to explore the freedom of exploration into an abstract world. We moved to Abu Dhabi and Qatar. My friend recommended that I take my paintings to the Ritz-Carlton, Doha for an exhibition. I was amazed that they accepted. I sold about 20 paintings that evening. After this, I had the confidence to exhibit at other hotels and spaces.
Now back in the English Countryside, my subject matter has taken a strikingly different path. I am painting from my studio overlooking a meadow and woods. The colours are distinctly cooler than my Arabian influenced work.
There are birds of all varieties which feature. Lately I am painting Red Kites and Hawks. I let their calls guide my painting and I allow their voices to emanate from the canvas, a language that is interpreted through glyph- like mark-making.
For me, a successful work of art has to emanate movement, energy, or emotion. I have to feel free from rules. The process must not be laborious. For this to happen, sometimes it is best to not let our inner critic interfere. This is true in life too, isn’t it?
I love painting for specific spaces. This is a challenge and the results are hugely rewarding. I am guided by colour and size and then let the canvas take on a life of its own.
Currently I have a little gallery in our orchard called “Little Orchard Gallery”. Here, clients can see my work in a beautiful intimate setting. I am very proud of my little garden adorning the outside. The style is very much like my painting, awash with colour and unexpected elements. I am very much in tune with nature and don’t use pesticides. I allow certain weeds to flourish as they attract bees and birds. I do not allow rules to interfere with my gardening. I plant what gives me joy.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
It took a great deal of courage to exhibit my work for the first time. A friend of mine suggested I put one of my paintings in a very small art gallery in Abu Dhabi. It was a painting called “Abu Dhabi From the Air”. I painted it as if from above looking down. I doubted that it was worthy of being in this smart space. But when I went to check on it a week later, it had sold for the asking price. I was so happy and greatly encouraged. As I mentioned before, this led to another friend suggesting I sell to hotels.
One lesson to be learned is to stay resilient against criticism. I gave up worrying about what people thought about my paintings and just went ahead and contacted possible spaces to exhibit. I believed that my paintings would look fabulous in those spaces, and they were!
Being resilient against nay sayers and critics is key to being a successful artist.
It is common amongst all art forms that not everyone is going to connect with a work of art. Some people will walk by one of my paintings, not giving it a second glance, whilst others will linger and take it in. I know some very good artists who will not exhibit because they are afraid of criticisms. I would also like to point out that the more you exhibit, the more you will learn about what sells and what doesn’t. But for me, I must paint for myself, for what resonates with my soul, not for what I think will please the viewer. If I am on this frequency, those paintings will eventually be well received because they come from the heart.
As Antoine Saint-Exupery said, “And now here is my secret, a very simple secret; it is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye.”
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
We have a beautiful community theatre in our area called New Era Theatre. They have four performances a year and corresponding to each performance they show a local artist’s work in the foyer. This gives artists of all disciplines and levels an opportunity to display their art. It is a successful collaboration of two art forms-performing art and visual art. Everyone volunteers to put on these productions and art exhibitions. This also enriches the community, giving opportunity for people to undertake new directions, such as curating, exhibiting, performing, stage design and costuming.
Along these lines, there are so many empty walls in towns, cities and villages which could be opened up for emerging artists to display their works, giving them courage and experience to take a step forward. Pubs, restaurants, businesses and retail spaces could also be used. Here in England some of the churches lay dormant and could be revived by displaying artworks. This idea is beginning to take off which is very exciting.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lisamounteerwatson.com
- Instagram: lisamounteerwatson
- Facebook: Lisa Mounteer-Watson Art
Image Credits
My images only