Studio visit with Vancouver Abstract Painter Lisa Ochowycz
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This January 2011 I had the absolute pleasure in spending the morning with Vancouver abstract painter Lisa Ochowycz. We had such a great conversation the time flew by and later, Lisa took the time to answer some of the questions we talked about together so I could share them here with you! (Lisa's studio portrait is taken by photographer Rachel Boekel.)Lisa thank you so much it's so cool meeting you and thank you for sharing yourself, your studio and your work to inspire myself and others!
Deb: What's your favorite art piece of yours?
Lisa: I am very excited about my Crosstown Series. There is just one piece so far,
but it hints at the relationship between painting and sculpture.
Deb: your favorite painting of another artist?
Lisa: I am absolutely in love with the work of Jean-Francios Provost and
plenitude-du-vide-44 is one of my favorite pieces.
Lisa:
Deb: What do you do to nourish your soul?
Deb: How would you define success and what has been a key factor in achieving
your success?
Lisa:
Deb: What recent or upcoming shows/and or gallery representation/events can
readers look out for to go and see of your work?
I have a joint show with Mary Anne Tateishi at Britannia Community Centre in
July.
A solo show at the Barristers Lounge from May 22-June 25th.
I am also really excited about my "klein" initiative. This is a series of
small and delightful work that I donate 20% of the sales to youth arts
organizations across Canada. Check it out here: http://store.lisaochowycz.ca
Deb: What the best thing about being an artist?
Sharing my paintings with others, that and waking up excited everyday to
head into the studio to paint.
Deb: What's the most challenging thing about being an artist?
Lisa: The pressure to constantly be working usually brought on by financial stress.
Deb: What do you do when your stuck or blocked?
Lisa: I write. I have a special book, pen, and then I just sit down and let it
flow. No sentence structure, no grammar, just writing.
Lisa 's studio is in the Mergatroid building part of the East Vancouver Culture Crawl and right down the street on Vernon Drive from the Old Foundry building Studios. As close as it's been all year, I a little embarassed to say this was my first time in this super cool buidling. Which by the way also houses Vancouver made Krhoma paints (link) which are made here too. who knew!
The sun came out just around noon and we had a view of the studio roof top building - all the light was fantastic - what a great studio space!
Lisa uses those metal things you put up to hang shelves ( what are they called again?) and covered them with foam and plastic to separate paintings. What a great idea!
Deb: What's your favorite art piece of yours?
but it hints at the relationship between painting and sculpture.
Deb: your favorite painting of another artist?
Lisa: I am absolutely in love with the work of Jean-Francios Provost and
plenitude-du-vide-44 is one of my favorite pieces.
Deb: What 3 pieces of advice would you give to other artists?
Lisa:
1) Remember that an artist career is three dimensional. It contains a
multitude of levels and activities.
2) Build "just for fun" time into your daily routine. Whether that’s
experimenting with a new type of medium, taking your self to an exhibition,
or running around the sea wall. It took me years to figure this one out.
3) Bring a sense of gratitude to your practice.
multitude of levels and activities.
2) Build "just for fun" time into your daily routine. Whether that’s
experimenting with a new type of medium, taking your self to an exhibition,
or running around the sea wall. It took me years to figure this one out.
3) Bring a sense of gratitude to your practice.
Deb: What do you do to nourish your soul?
Lisa: Yoga, meditation, good food, and listen to music.
Deb: How would you define success and what has been a key factor in achieving
your success?
Lisa:
Definition of success, could also be know as a "recipe for success"
Simplify - thoughts in your mind, colours in your tool boxes, purpose
Understanding - relationship between objects and oneself
Curiosity - for your environment, for your peers, for learning
Courage - to step beyond something that is working but not fulfilling
Excitement - and enthusiasm for experimentation
Sharing - ones knowledge, passion, and gratitude
Shaking it up - turn your music up and dance!
Key factor in achieving success.
Three things come to mind:
Generosity (finically and emotionally) from others, the desire to constantly
challenge my understanding and my skill level, and a constant desire to
paint.
Understanding - relationship between objects and oneself
Curiosity - for your environment, for your peers, for learning
Courage - to step beyond something that is working but not fulfilling
Excitement - and enthusiasm for experimentation
Sharing - ones knowledge, passion, and gratitude
Shaking it up - turn your music up and dance!
Key factor in achieving success.
Three things come to mind:
Generosity (finically and emotionally) from others, the desire to constantly
challenge my understanding and my skill level, and a constant desire to
paint.
Deb: What recent or upcoming shows/and or gallery representation/events can
readers look out for to go and see of your work?
Lisa:
I have a joint show with Mary Anne Tateishi at Britannia Community Centre in
July.
A solo show at the Barristers Lounge from May 22-June 25th.
I am also really excited about my "klein" initiative. This is a series of
small and delightful work that I donate 20% of the sales to youth arts
organizations across Canada. Check it out here: http://store.lisaochowycz.ca
Deb: What the best thing about being an artist?
Sharing my paintings with others, that and waking up excited everyday to
head into the studio to paint.
Lisa: The pressure to constantly be working usually brought on by financial stress.
Deb: What do you do when your stuck or blocked?
Lisa: I write. I have a special book, pen, and then I just sit down and let it
flow. No sentence structure, no grammar, just writing.
Deb: me too! :)
Lisa 's studio is in the Mergatroid building part of the East Vancouver Culture Crawl and right down the street on Vernon Drive from the Old Foundry building Studios. As close as it's been all year, I a little embarassed to say this was my first time in this super cool buidling. Which by the way also houses Vancouver made Krhoma paints (link) which are made here too. who knew!The sun came out just around noon and we had a view of the studio roof top building - all the light was fantastic - what a great studio space!Lisa uses those metal things you put up to hang shelves ( what are they called again?) and covered them with foam and plastic to separate paintings. What a great idea!
