#lisadraws2015

I've been mulling over a number of projects for this upcoming year and one of the hardest parts for me is to commit to the most personal projects or doing things purely for myself. I have a lot planned this year including writing and illustrating a children's book, 4 solo shows, an artist residency, and numerous teaching gigs. Just writing that out makes me gulp a little bit and my heart beats a little faster with anticipation, excitement, and some fear. Many of these projects are well under way and I'm building out my schedule which makes me feel a bit more at ease but still...I have a ton of work to do!

Anyway- it's often my most personal projects that suffer when it comes down to it. I've wanted to create a repeatable project for ages and I've started some and stopped some and I never really committed to them like they deserve. This year will be different! Because of all the projects I have and my busy schedule- I need to draw a lot. When I paint a lot I tend to drop down on drawing and I can't let that happen this year- drawing is my comfort and it's where my new ideas come from- I cannot live without it. So I got a couple new sketchbooks, I have some pretty papers, lots of drawing materials and too many ideas to count. If you want to follow along on this 365 journey, please follow me on Instagram at lisakurt. I am so ready to do this!

xo,

Lisa

Sketchbook: week 9

Well last week sure got away from me but for all the right reasons! I finished my latest commission and started a couple of new projects as well. I have more to share but will save some for a later/separate post. I still did manage to get some sketching in and got a nice little set of conté crayons to play with. Here is the latest sketch:

So this little guy is also part of my newest project. He's a little sad holding that rubik's cube isn't he. You'll have to stay tuned to find out why. ;)

Sketchbook: week 8 and more news!

I'm excited to share that I have some work in a group show tonight, so if you're in the Reno area- stop by Noble Pie Parlor between 7-10pm for a great show! The work will be up for about a month- so please stop by. I have 3 new pieces- all graphite drawings on archival paper. I'll share those images later- I promise! This week's sketch is inspired by one of my favorite and ubiquitous animals- the beloved feline. I decided I wanted to make a Patron Saint for Hover Cats. If you own or spend enough time around cats- you will recognize this phenomena where cats legs disappear and they become hovering beings. There is also a hover cat on Welcome to Night Vale- he sounds a little scary though. Anyway- enjoy!

Sketchbook: week 7

This week's sketch had to be inspired by Halloween. I'm often inspired by spooky, supernatural, and weird tales as a default so this of course is my favorite holiday!

I've been watching some scary movies, some Twilight Zone and X-Files episodes, and reading lots of Lovecraft stories throughout the month to get into the Halloween spirit. If you enjoy podcasts, you might like Welcome to Night Vale- it is awesome and weird.

I hope everyone has a fun Halloween- look out for those monsters, ghosts, voids, and unknowable creatures!

Sketchbook: week 6

This week has been full of fun projects, including 2 commissions- one of which is complete- hooray! I'll be able to share more soon. I've still managed to keep up with sketching - this week entailed a lot of quick and rough sketches as I had more ideas to capture before I forgot them. Here is this week's sketch I want to share with you:

I've been continuing on with my ghost series, as you can see. This little sketch has a lot of meaning in it to me and will very likely get painted because of it. I've been thinking a lot about my grandmother- she passed away years ago but was a very important female figure in my life. She loved a good story and I think I get that trait from her. She was artistically inclined- as is my mother and one of her favorite places was her bed- she loved to read, sleep in and just hang out in her bed. I have a vivid memory of my grandfather showing me a picture of her lounging in bed with a book and him saying how much she just loved to be right there with her thoughts. I also love my bed- I love sketching, daydreaming, reading, and napping in my bed- it's just the most comfortable, coziest, and safest place to be vulnerable and be yourself. Some of my best sketches come from late at night, just before I settle in to go to sleep and I have just a burst of ideas I need to capture. If I don't get them down right then....they sometimes are lost forever. This is one of those sketches.

Sketchbook: week 5 and news!

I have some great news to share this week! Because of all of your votes, I made it to the top 5 for RAW Artist of the Year in Reno! Thank you everyone for supporting me and nominating me. Thanks also to those who keep ordering prints in the store. I do have some new prints in my shop. If you haven't yet seen, I've added 3 new prints from the ghosts series I've been working on. Stay tuned for more on that- I have a lot more work to come.

There is a group show at Noble Pie Pizza coming up November 7th, so if you're in the Reno area, please come by for pizza, beer, and art- should be a fun time!

I have a number of other great projects in the works, including a commission, a couple gallery proposals, continuing my ghost series, starting two new series/bodies of work, and a few secret projects up my sleeves. I wish I could get myself to paint and draw even faster as I have so much I want to share with all of you.

Here is my latest sketch for this week. I haven't drawn a narwhal in a little while and this one has a little twist!

Imagine swimming peacefully only to come up to this creature in the deep! Don't worry though...he's friendly and just a little curious.

Sketchbook: week 4

Here we are with sketch number 4! I've been thinking a lot about female characters and role models and stuff like that lately- more than I'll delve into here. It seems strange to me that more characters in movies, tv, and video games aren't female...or if they are- why aren't they better written to better inspire everyone? It's complicated for sure...but I'm guessing not as complicated as these industries would like us to think it is. It seems like a lot of people out there underestimate women as a default which is unfortunate for us all. So I give you this brave lady:

If you think honeybadgers don't care....and they don't....well look at how much she cares about the honeybadger. And maybe that honeybadger is even her spirit animal. So there.

I would not underestimate her.

Sketchbook: week 3

Happy Friday everyone! I seem to have robots on the brain still, so here is this week's sketch:  

I really like the way this little robot came out and I couldn't resist giving him a little animal friend holding a balloon. I have an idea brewing in my studio for a new ongoing project and I'm thinking of incorporating some of these sketches into it. Stay tuned! beep. bop. boop.

Sketchbook: week 2

Here is this week's sketch! I went to Portland for a week during the summer and was inspired by Sasquatches! I like to think the sasquatch is friends or maybe penpals with the yeti. How would they mail stuff in secret? Maybe by birds or raccoons...

doodling as meditation

Doodling is my favorite form of meditation. Doing diligent sketch work is a way for me to reach a calm place and lose myself in the present and let a lot of my fears, worry, and internal chatter fall away. Sometimes I don't know what will come out until it's on the paper.

Sometimes what comes out makes no sense. This kind of work takes me to a happy place.

Sketchbook: week 1

So one of the things I am excited to share are peeks into my sketchbook each week. It keeps me on my toes to sketch regularly and share my drawings and ideas but also gives all of you a chance to get a sense of my process and my line of thought and how that might progress and morph over time. This week's sketch is this robot. I'm working on a series of robot pieces plus my son's birthday is right around the corner and he wants a robot party....can't argue with that!

You'll see a variety of sketches- sometimes I have more finished drawings, sometimes they are rough and rushed, and sometimes it's a whole lot of doodling. Enjoy!