Butterflies and pollinating the future
August 2024
‘The artist is always beginning’ ~ Ezra Pound
Hi! How are you? I’m so glad you’re here. That’s me, gazing at mushrooms.
I’m a little nervous starting this newsletter but recently a dear friend of mine told me that sometimes what feels like fear may actually be anticipation, and that it happens when something is important to you. How true.
So, I’m releasing the butterflies from my stomach and letting them settle in my art, among the wildflowers. I’m letting them pollinate and flutter towards the creation of my most authentic life, one that brings me closer to my gifts.
What I aim to share here each month is a little about my art and my life. I’ll share updates on classes and events, help you make connections to other artists and opportunities, and hope to inspire a little bit of creativity through the occasional free tutorial or printable. It’s gonna be fun. If you know someone who might enjoy this too, please share with them. It might help them, and it will definitely help me as I navigate this path.
With gratitude, Lisa
The theme is pollinators.
I’ve mentioned in blog posts that I’m working on a series of large-scale collages focused on pollinators. I’m learning a lot during this process, not the least of which is how challenging it is working large in this medium.
My hope is that this completed work will be colorful and hopeful, but also inform and inspire us to care more deeply about the environments we create for those humble beings carrying the weight of the world.
I’ll share photos of my process on my socials, and soon in a special section on my website.
At the ladybug picnic!
You Gen X’ers out there are humming it now, aren’t you?
Part of the process of making large collage is to make small collage to work out the details. This was born from one of those practice pieces. I fell in love with the little ladybugs, the adorable little aphid-munching, pollinating, cutie pies, and had to make a little piece to share.
I love how painterly collage can look with the handprinted papers, and I adore seeing the texture of the underlying images from different angles.
Ladybug Picnic original collage
So colorful and cute. There's no way you can look at this and not smile.
Locals - buying my art? Save on postage. I offer free in-person delivery in the BLA! Want some portable art? Find my pinback buttons at Coco Moon in downtown Brainerd, as well as great coffee and lots of original art from other local artists.
Inspiration right in my front yard.
When I bought my little house in town, I immediately started digging up the front yard in the hopes I’d create a space that was a little more colorful, wild, and useful than turf grass.
Enter Lawns 2 Legumes. This program provides Minnesotans with grant monies to add native plants to their landscapes. My garden will now provide food, Spring through Fall, for pollinators, and gives me art inspiration right in my front yard.
Interested? Their Spring 2025 grant round is still open!
Have you been to Art in Motion on the Lake Wobegon Trail in Holdingford, MN? Not only do they have an absolutely amazing facility right on the bike trail, but also a cafe with delicious food, a pollinator garden (I told you it’s a theme), and gobs of opportunities for artists and arts enthusiasts. Well worth the visit, if you haven’t already. It’s really something special. Check out their website.
Make time for creativity!
I’ve put together a colorful printable just for you! Turn these cuties into a banner like this, or a mobile, or maybe even ornaments. You’ll just need scissors, string, and a hole punch or toothpick. This project provides great cutting practice for youngsters, but honestly, I have one hanging on my own bookcase because it’s just so cute, so grown-ups, don’t think this isn’t for you. You have permission to play.
Just click on the image to be directed to a page on my website where you can download this sweet project for FREE!
Thank you for reading. It means the world to me.
I’ll be back next month with more updates. In the meantime I’ll be posting on instagram and facebook, and perhaps adding a blog post to my website. I’ll definitely be working on pollinator pieces, as well as a few other little projects I have in the works that I can’t wait to share. I’m so excited. Those butterflies are back, but I’m sure this time it’s anticipation. :)
Have questions? Email me at lisa@lilfishstudios.com
