My work focuses on symbolism to portray a message and to examine social issues, relationships, and ideas in an abstract visual way. The use of strong color, as well as the choice of color, plays a fundamental role in communicating with the viewer, as do specific mark making techniques. Reality is distorted , adding another layer of meaning to the interrelationship between the painting and the social issue, event, or state I am responding to. My current interest in painting examines the relationship between biblical reference from the past and modern times, focusing specifically on issues of health such as cancer and aids, as well as environmental collapse. My other related study is the experience of mental illness from within the mind of the affected person. Using abstraction adds to the experience of a distorted reality. It is my wish that when viewing my paintings, the viewer is struck initially with a strong emotional reaction, followed by a secondary need to understand the relationship between the title and reference of the painting ,to what is before them .
Copyright 2005-2007 Lisa Martin. All Rights Reserved. Copying is prohibited.