As an advocate for Eden and Element, Lisa Solberg is officially a sponsored artist, laminated badge and everything. Most other Element peeps have to skate and take risks with handrails and their future fertility, but Lisa just makes art. That’s just how good at arting she is. Lisa, we love you for your art, among other things. Check out the works, the words and the wisdom by tickling a couple of the buttons, links and images below.
How much time do you spend marinating? No marinating at all. I see a big open canvas and if I am feeling it, I start making moves on it. I never have the end image or goal in my head. I start and deliver until completion. It’s a commitment thing. I always tell my friends, once I put that canvas up, there’s no real sleeping or stopping until it’s finished. I can’t even have cohesive conversations with people when I’m in the process. I’m totally lost in the world of my painting. It’s nice when I finish. It feels like a huge burden lifted off my shoulders, and I’m left totally exhausted.
Describe a typical day for Lisa Solberg—the portrait of the artist of a day. Do you paint every day, or does life make a habit of getting in the way? Life for me is experiencing and then expressively creating—so whether it gets in the way of actual ‘painting’ doesn’t really matter—the end product is always in the form of a work of art. I most definitely spend a lot of time painting. I also spend a lot of time not painting. However, when I’m painting, it’s one hundred percent necessary and I pump it out. It’s very natural, very immediate, and very raw. I release everything. On my off days I am usually exploring somewhere, meeting someone, in the ocean or recovering from a night out. I like to go to the public library downtown Los Angeles and work in my sketchbook and practice backwards calligraphy. I like to do everything in odd numbers. These kind of things fill my days.
Are you inspired by the walls of your studio, or do you need to get out to find ideas? Both. Big open spaces always inspire me. I’m totally O.C.D. I need everything very clean and open in order to be so messy and expressive with my work. I also need to get fresh air and experience the world around me in order to get ideas. It’s a two-part process. First, getting out—whether it is Indonesia or skid row—and then thinking about nothing and seeing everything appear on the walls of my studio. Both are integral parts of my process.
What is art? Ha, art is everything art is nothing art is real art is our savior art is bullshit art is self absorbed art is for everyone art is offensive art is accepted art is dark art is light art is political art is… ART needs a new name. How about, A.R.T. = A REAL TREAT.
Is it artificial, or more real? A real treat would be pretty real. Right?
What’s more important: understanding art or appreciating beauty? Hands down, appreciating beauty. There is so much beauty in the world that goes unseen. Art, or more specifically, painting, is only one way in which beauty can be expressed. For me it’s everything. To be in the position of creating pieces that may be considered as beautiful by an individual and hold that place within that individuals life and inspire that individual in that way is amazing to me. Don’t get me wrong too — beauty in my mind is a person puking just as much as it is a person making out with a tree trunk.
Did you go to art school? Nope. I wanted a full education. I love astronomy and math too much. Most of my classes were art though; I got my BFA—I learned that what’s really going to get me somewhere is my own motivation and work ethic. I had lovely teachers—still great friends. I did go to summer school at the Art Institute of Chicago. I learned a lot of technique there. Live nude drawing and painting is really the best base that I could ask for.
Most importantly: What’s your favorite color? 1. Green
2. White
3. Gold
Favorite number. 1. 11
2. 3
3. 23
I think we’re confusing favorites for favorite.
Tags: Advocate, Art, Eden, Element Skateboards, Interview, Lisa Solberg
