One jurist who invited Ms. Purdy into an exhibition said Lisa's work is deeply original and a bit quirky. That fairly sums it up. Her paintings have also been said to convey a sense of calm while incorporating a complex layering of lines and forms.
Lisa spent her formative years at Cranbrook Schools in Michigan - a National Historic Landmark. While there she was surrounded by the architecture and art of some of the most influential designers of the 1930s. This experience compelled her to look for ways to bring art into the lives of others at all times.
Many of her large oil paintings have been included in prestigious exhibits including Denver International Airport, the Colorado State Capitol, State of the Art exhibit, Ice Breaker, Denver Botanic Gardens, and a solo exhibit at Space Gallery in Denver, CO. You can see her artwork in corporate collections and private homes around the country. She is represented by Space Gallery in Denver.
The stone sculptures are mostly made from Serpentine stone from Zimbabwe, Africa. Lisa learned how to hand carve these pieces from Zimbabwean teachers in numerous workshops in the U.S. The work takes unlimited patience to slowly chip away at the stone with chisel and hammer, and ultimately with multiple grades of sandpaper. The process is meditative and uplifting.
Lisa's Works on Paper are done with water-based oil and India ink on high-quality watercolor paper. These works demonstrate a fluidity of line and color. They are abstract in nature and have an Asian influence.
You can also see her work and contact her on her website: Lisapurdy.com. Or at her gallery: SpaceGallery.org/artist/lisa-purdy
Statement
Design in all its forms is at the core of who I am. I’ve been an interior designer, urban designer, real estate developer, historic preservationist, and artist all my life. My interest in historic preservation and art was most likely an outgrowth of growing up in and around Cranbrook Schools (a National Historic Landmark) from an early age in Michigan. There I was surrounded by the most influential designers of the 1930s, including Eliel Saarinen, Albert Kahn, and Carl Milles. No doubt this led to my appreciation of urban design and to my subsequent leadership role in creating the LODO historic district in Denver much later in life. The belief shared by Cranbrook’s founder and principle architect was that art should permeate every aspect of life.
I work with stone, paint, paper, and clay — most often in an abstract style. Every piece is individual and original. While working on paper, the artwork sometimes displays an Asian influence with a fluid and light touch. The oil paintings are often more dramatic, and bold but with an ethereal quality. The source of the designs remains a mystery to me. I often start with a color concept and make a mark. Each additional mark responds to the first and so on. As I explore color and line, I dive into a world without words. I exchange thinking for feeling as the canvas becomes a silent song.
All artwork is @Lisa Purdy 2023. Nothing may be copied, reproduced, or used in any manner without the express written permission of Lisa Purdy.
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