Clockwise From Upper Right-Hand corner,
Antarctic Camper, 19x19", Gouache and acrylic on wood panel;
Folk Forest, 18x14", Gouache on wood;
A Chair, illustration for Gertrude Stein's Tender Buttons, Chronicle Books, 2012;
In Between, illustration for Gertrude Stein's Tender Buttons, Chronicle Books, 2012;
Standing Guard, 11x14", Gouache and graphite on vintage ephemera;
Sunrise, 28x28", Gouache and acrylic on weed panel;
The Observer, 8x10", Gouache and graphite on paper;
The White Hunter, illustration for Gerturude Stein's Tender Buttons, Chronicle Books, 2012;
The Artist, Lisa Congdon
Lisa Congdon (b. 1968) has not followed the standard path that many artists take. She did not begin painting or drawing until she was 30 years old and is almost entirely self taught. Her obsession with pattern, color and far away cultures have driven the growth of her vast catalog of work.
Much of Congdon’s work (made primarily from graphite, gouache, ink and paper) is narrative, though none of her works are intended to be realistic snapshots of any particular time or place. While she draws from actual histories and cultures, she works hard to transform the imagery in unexpected ways. Her intention is to draw viewers in to come up with their own narratives about her work. Patchwork, patterns and a textile presence in Congdon’s work reference her longtime romance with surface design, in particular the design and folk pattern of Scandinavian. Her work also combines obvious juxtapositions: she combines bold neon colors with vintage sepia toned photographs and traditional graphite drawings with collaged geometric shapes.
Congdon makes a good part of her living from book illustration and has worked with Chronicle Books, Harper Collins Publishing, Random House Publishing, Running Press, Cameron & Company and Simon and Schuster. Lisa is also known for her hand-lettering and pattern design, and she also keeps a daily blog of her work called "Today is Going to be Awesome."
Oakland, California
www.lisacongdon.com