While on a hike searching for water drops to photograph I spotted this leaf – covered with them. On the edge of the leaf, I noticed this ant slowly making its way across the bumpy field. As a second thought before finishing with my photographs, I snapped a shot of the ant. It was not until I was on the computer looking at the image larger that I saw that it was carrying a water drop of its own!

There is a great sense of accomplishment when I get images out of my head and into a form that others can see. I have discovered that the more tools I have available for that purpose – the more the creative inspiration flows.

With this logo, the idea was to make the cog roll off the screen as the other words faded out and ‘gallery’ flipped out. As I was viewing the animation, the thought occurred, “Oh!…I can make the cog get smaller as it rolls out.” At that point, I stopped myself and said, “Enough! Call it quits when you’re ahead….”

I have been having so much fun gathering sounds to establish a sound library. My digital recorder now travels with me wherever I go. The ‘eventual’ idea is to upload them to a website, in a creative commons format, so that other image creators can use them for free. When I was first starting out, it was challenging to find free media to practice with.

If you have tips on a good site (that is not overwhelmed with advertising and possible spam / virus threats) …please send it my way.

Web Videos are a powerful, interactive way to tell the story of your business, profession, product, event or service by combining art, music, and voice with video capture and still imagery created by yours truly.

With my business and marketing background & my art and and portrait expertise, I begin mentally composing the visual elements of your presentation as soon as I first hear about your project.

I think everyone who works with people and who has a website needs to have (at least) one web video. Frequent, fresh web content is a MUST in today’s fast paced world.

As I have been working on creating a number of these to promote other local businesses, I realized that I needed to make one that promotes MY own!

Using music from local musicians Paul Kamm & Eleanore MacDonald http://www.kammmac.com/ and Redfern Transformative Art for background elements, we designed this professional development video for Bereavement Counselor, Heather Certik. Within moments of making it public on YouTube, she came up in the top four on Google, MSN and AOL search engines. From having no web presence (at the time of video publishing) to top placement on popular search engines, we are looking forward to hearing how her web video helps Heather find new clients and build her business.

Lisa’s artwork is on display at the Art Works Gallery at 113 Mill Street in Grass Valley

This specific piece can be viewed online at

Deer Creek in Nevada City

A few of the new art pieces created for the 2011 Nevada County Fair. Can you see the dolphin in the one above?

Historic Theater in downdown Grass Valley

I was thoroughly impressed with the planning and execution of such a feat. When you walk in the Gallery now, it looks TOTALLY different!

Right after the rotation, three of us had the opportunity to combine our talents to create a new window display. Yvon Dockter, Fred Hodgson and I decided that we all had art pieces that would go along with a ‘garden theme.’

We worked from one end of the space to another combining our metal sculpture, pottery and Transformative art pieces so that we had a pleasing array of interesting shapes, heights and colors. It was really fun working with these two artists. We were all happy and satisfied with our efforts.

‘Our window’ will be up until the end of August.

Lindsey’s Portrait Session

Last week we created Lindsey’s Senior Portraits. She brought in her sketch book and paint brushes. Which was great!

As we began visiting, I asked about her art and if she had some that I could see. She hadn’t brought any along. Lindsey’s mom was there and enthusiastically described several of her pieces. With a meaningful look, I asked, “How far away do you live?”

Lindsey and I began the photo session while mom made the quick trip. By the time she arrived back a the studio, with the entire art portfolio (rather than the two pieces we’d originally talked about), Lindsey and I had gotten comfortable with the flow of how we worked together.

She was wearing that fantastic red jacket when the art arrived…. I was able to pick out a piece that neither mother or daughter would have chosen. When I shared the idea that popped into my mind, everyone could feel the excitement sparkling in the air around us.

Mother nature must have felt it too because a gentle breeze blew through – then that magical moment occurred…

Artist and her Artwork