ARTIST’S STATEMENT

“After reading Van Gogh’s quote, ‘I dream about painting and then paint my dream,’ I was inspired to translate the images in my dreams into abstract paintings. While my paintings evolve from dreams, my life experiences enrich my work, helping me to create canvases with shapes and colors that evoke the intricacies and beauty of reproduction and the creation of life.

My paintings are rich with diverse materials, including oil paints, wax, and gold leaf. Through the melding of these materials, I create layered works, where the backgrounds contain shapes and patterns that the viewers can excavate from the paintings as they observe them. Sometimes the materials I use interact in an unpredictable fashion and bring welcome spontaneity to the painting.

I’m often reticent to describe to viewers what a painting means to me. I prefer that viewers interpret my work for themselves, filtering the images through their own unique thoughts and emotions. In this way, they imbue my paintings with meaning beyond my initial vision and give them a life that transcends their creator.”

PROFILE

Lissa Rankin graduated with a bachelor of arts from Duke University before continuing her education at the University of South Florida and Northwestern University. After completing her post-doctoral training, she apprenticed with an established San Diego artist. During this apprenticeship, she explored many new painting techniques before developing her individual style of strong abstract compositions over unique layered textured backgrounds. She has received critical acclaim of her unique paintings and has exhibited extensively throughout Southern California. She has had several solo exhibitions and her work in featured in prominent collections. Lissa is a member of the San Diego Museum of Art Artists Guild and the San Diego Art Institute.