by Jack Condous
It is exciting to come across so much talent and ability in South Australia. It is even more exciting when you get the chance to interview an artists who loves what they are doing. You can see, feel and hear the enthusiasm coming from many of the words of this emerging artist – LISA INGERSON.
Lisa is a registered nurse who works three days a week, but lives and breathes for her creative activity for the remaining time of her week. I interviewed her recently, persuading Lisa to join our Planning group for the 2016 Characters of Fleurieu. Her reputation is spreading following her very successful exhibition held at the South Coast Regional Art Centre, Goolwa. She will bring a lot of enthusiasm and local knowledge of the Fleurieu as she lives in Goolwa.
I found Lisa a gentle, kind intelligent artist willing to share her information and interact with passion of her beliefs. She believes strongly in what she is doing and in particular loves what she is currently experimenting with her works. She trained at Adelaide Central School of Art and has been influenced by Paul Ruiz and Matt Doust. She just concluded her highly successful SALA solo exhibition at the South Coast Regional Gallery, Goolwa, where more than half her large works were sold to many of her sitters who live in her community. Her reputation is spreading and Lisa’s “wings are about to spread even further”. She said to me “I love painting/drawing – I like to find the essence of the person – I love to show and work in my portraits the essence of the person. I wish to capture people as delightful characters with feelings and emotions.”
The Friends SASA/RSASA discovered Lisa at the last Characters of Fleurieu exhibition where she won the 1st Prize for her portrait It’s not Rocket Science. Lisa joined the RSASA following her success and has made a great start with her works in our Society. Her work at the sitting of the Adelaide City Council Mayor, Martin Haese was outstanding. She became absorbed in her painting, experimenting-looking for the journey of the person she is painting (using old and new maps). This work was displayed at the RSASA /SALA exhibition attracted a lot of attention. So much so Lisa kindly donated the work to Friends SASA for the UniSA Development Unit to sell as part of fundraising for the 25th Birthday celebrations of the UniSA and the 160th Anniversary of SASA/RSASA.
Lisa has her plans, when asked, she has entered the Cathedral Prize and plans going after major awards in Australia. She won the “Hangers Prize” recently at the 2nd RSASA Biennial Portrait Prize Exhibition.
In 5 years time Lisa informed me with great confidence and maturity she would love to be a full-time artist succeeding in the big prizes in SA and interstate.
The beauty, intensity and joy of life that evokes thoughts and feelings, comes through Lisa and her work. She loves her art work-she is passionate, emotive, colourful and yet elegant in her manner and style. She has this talent and ability not only in portraits but paints urban themes along with scenes from her local rural and beachside environment.
Lisa has exhibited widely in Balaklava, McLaren Vale, Dalyesford Victoria, Strathalbyn. Global Gallery, Sydney NSW, Art Images SA, Artspace, Artistic Licence Gallery and Studio, Challenger Gallery RAH, Koonaro Wines. She has received lots of commissions and acclaimed in many publications in SA and Interstate.
My advice – watch this emerging artist. In two to five years time (with her clear goals set in mind) Lisa is to hit the the big time! It is great that we have discovered such an artist who has exhibited with us and brought a new contemporary style to our environment.