How did an Atlanta native become a storyteller and arrive at ways of engaging viewers in each framed moment's bigger story? Skill and passion certainly are a leg up. Lisa Gleim possesses a knack for very deftly pairing clever compositions with masterful, anatomically accurate renderings of untamed, often predatory, creatures to inspire mystical musings by viewers. There's more to her tale, however.
Over the course of her career, Gleim has grown into her own unique style, instantly recognizable. Her current body of work is a series of Western wildlife narrative realism on panel, set against understated but identifiable substrates of vintage maps and nostalgic collectables on panel. Such backgrounds add to each work's narrative, using materials of an undeniable universal appeal.
Who doesn't have a city metro guide, a show ticket, a saved scrap of paper chock full of fond, unforgettable memories? Many pieces also include charming interactions: A bear exploring a honey hive as bees circle or a keen fox eyeing two taunting ravens. "Bears are natural models-curious, active and playful," says Gleim.
"Initially, my aspiration to be a commissioned portrait artist led me to the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA). Until then I had always drawn, never really painted, nor imagined working in oils. Experience with both [drawing and painting] refined and focused my career objectives. Then there was yet another unexpected twist before graduation: in a classmate's castoff supplies, I found my true medium: pastels."
This story is from the August/September 2023 edition of International Artist.
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This story is from the August/September 2023 edition of International Artist.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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Intrigue in the ordinary
I've \"'ve never had any formal training always had a strong attraction to the arts and the practice of painting
Paper Textures
John Lovett guides us through the varying properties of different watercolor surfaces
Creating Ambiance
Mona Parker Weidner selects colors palettes and light sources that emphasize the mood of her interior scenes
Visual Depth
Blending and smoothing with solvents, Holly Siniscal creates painterly portraits in colored pencil
Sharp Precision
Working with craft blades and tattoo needles, Conor Smith etches realistic renderings of wildlife
The architecture of water
When Then I moved from Toronto to a tiny community in Nova Scotia, I became fascinated by the ocean, its reflections and endlessly shifting patterns of color and light
Saturated World
Emphasizing the beauty of nature, Joe A. Oakes paints landscapes with warm colors and imaginative compositions
Pure Bliss
Working alla prima, Andreas Liss takes on a loose, unbridled approach in his artwork
Sculpting the Paint
Using a palette knife allows oil painter Maria Iva to create clean colors and rich textures
Forwad MOMENTUM
Artist Lisa Gleim shares the evolution of her career and how she grew into her preferred medium of pastels
