Lisa Hebden

Sunshiny Day

January 19th, 2010

Yesterday was the first day the sun has shone here in a while, so I will honour that by posting some lovely shots of my honeymoon in Kauai back in September. A gorgeous place, especially for artists inclined to beachy things…

I found an artist at Amy Lauren’s Gallery in Hanapepe whose work made me swoon just a little, Melinda Morey. I swear I did my Beach Paintings before I saw these!

Dawn Patrol by Melinda Morey

Floating by Melinda Morey

Keeping it Afloat II by Melinda Morey

Local Girl in Sand by Melinda Morey

Momentum by Melinda Morey

Tags: kauai, melinda morey, Travels
Posted in Inspiration, Travels | No Comments »

A New Year, a New Home

January 16th, 2010

So it’s been more than a month since my last post, and I am a neglectful blogger. For good reason, my friends–I’ve been painting up a storm, though not on canvases. My hubs, my very obliging mum and I have emptied almost a dozen cans of paint onto the walls of my soon-to-be-new house. I’m very excited. Just the bathroom and the trim to go, and it’s all done.

January 3rd was a sad day, as I was required to vacate my lovely downtown studio to make way for the wrecking ball. The leak in the roof was enough to convince the building owners to push forward their plans to convert our lovely space into several condos. Sigh.

However, I have a new space to work in. And it’s warm and sunny, so to be honest, I’m much happier. Painting in gloves and a down vest (with a hot water bottle shoved in it) was far from ideal!

Inspiring books I’ll be leafing through:

Painting People

Drop Dead Cute

Lisa Yuskavage: Small Paintings

I can’t wait to get started in my new space. I hope 2010 is a productive, inspiring year for everyone.

Tags: drop dead cute, lisa hebden, lisa yuskavage, new home, painting people, studio
Posted in House & Garden, My Paintings | No Comments »

Bright Star

December 9th, 2009

Yet another lovely, visually inspiring film: Jane Campion’s Bright Star lives up to its name. The imagery was just as beautiful as Keats’ poetry. “A thing of beauty is a joy forever.”

Coincidentally, the star of Bright Star, Ms Abbie Cornish (above) was half of the influence behind this painting.

Tags: abbie cornish, bright star, lisa hebden, paintings
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Passage ~ New Paintings

December 7th, 2009

I’m back! I went to Hong Kong for a week (fun!) and now I have some pics of my new paintings…they’re all updated on my website, here.

Tags: lisa hebden, new paintings, Passage
Posted in My Paintings | 1 Comment »

A Funny Thing

November 19th, 2009

“What a funny thing painting is. The abstract painters always insist on their connection with the visible reality, while the so called figurative artists insist that what they really care about, is the abstract qualities of life.”
~Marlene Dumas

Chlorosis Love Sick by Marlene Dumas

Young Boys by Marlene Dumas

Aren’t they sweet? I love this painting. The colours, the way she draws and paints, almost like watercolour but with oil. They look so cold, I feel sorry for them, wedged together on that thin slip of yellow.

Young Boys (detail) by Marlene Dumas

I’ll be photographing the installation my own show today, and will post the pics soon!

Tags: inspiring, marlene dumas
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New Show!

November 16th, 2009

Hello Lovelies. If you live in Victoria, please check out my new solo show. Passage will be showing from November 18 until December 17 at University of Victoria’s McPherson Library Gallery. After the work goes up, I’ll post some more photos. Phew, the paintings are finished, and photographed, signed and dry (unusual for me to hang fully dry paintings!) and I’m very happy and very tired. Cup of tea and cheesy novel? Yes, please.

Sadly, there is no opening reception. But if anyone would like to meet me at the gallery and chat about the work, I’ll post a day when I’ll be there.

Tags: McPherson Library Gallery, new paintings by Lisa Hebden, Passage, UVic
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Anna Wolf Photography

November 13th, 2009

My work is somewhat influenced by fashion photography. I have hundreds of tear sheets I’ve collected over the years. I keep them in a fabric grocery bag (not so great–I keep meaning to put them in sleeves in a binder, but who has the time?) and add to them constantly. When I stumble upon images like these by Anna Wolf, (found via Visuals) I’m just so inspired to paint!

Photo by Anna Wolf

The soft-focus on the hair in the one above just gets me every time. And that eye. So creepy and lovely.

Photo by Anna Wolf

: Photo by Anna Wolf

This one is my favourite, but then I’m a sucker for beach images. Especially with a 50s bent.

A side note: While I’m influenced by fashion photographs, I respect the author of the image, and never copy it. Sometimes I’ll use an image to get a hand at a certain angle, or to see how light hits different noses differently. But I have to say, those peonies in that first photo would be delicious to paint—all that pink!

Tags: anna wolf, beach images, fashion photography, lisa hebden
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Photographing Paintings

November 12th, 2009

Here is a sort-of preview of the new work, as photographed yesterday. Photographing work is my least favourite part of the whole process. I’m lying on the floor, squinting into the view-finder, dealing with tricky sheen and funky light, appreciating how difficult it must be to be a professional photographer!

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: it’s all about the eyes. I find if the eyes are off (and not in a good way), the portrait doesn’t work. These new paintings continue in my tradition of portraits of make-believe girls. They are composites and imaginings. One painting will be inspired by a magazine ad for handbags, but will morph into something else entirely.

I’m excited about this one above. She’s raw and dark.

And this one is called “Pink Lady”. I couldn’t resist. I’ll post the whole paintings after the show opens next Wednesday!

Tags: lisa hebden paintings
Posted in My Paintings | 5 Comments »

Pressure Cooker

November 10th, 2009

I have been quiet this week, busily applying paint to canvas in preparation for another show here in Victoria, at the UVic McPherson Library Gallery on the 18th. Funny how I find myself in this position yet again, hoping the paint will dry faster than chemically possible…I’ll be back here soon with photos, but it’s hard to show photos of unfinished paintings. Check in later, friends…

Posted in Random Blathering | 1 Comment »

A Lovely Inside Day

November 4th, 2009

I don’t have a lot to write about today, rushing about trying to get into the studio. Funny how when I most want to get my work done, that’s when other things get in the way. I sometimes wonder if it’s a challenge, like my resolve is being tested by the mundane. My old professor’s wife called this wee battle “studio tyranny” and I’ve never forgotten that.

I just did a Google Images search for the word “lovely” and the poster for The Lovely Bones came up. I had little interest in this film until I saw that the screenplay was done by Peter Jackson, Philippa Boyens and Fran Walsh, the trio that did the screenplay for the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Hmmm. They seem to have the hang of adaptation. Maybe it’ll be worth a look. It looks sad, creepy and beautiful…What a lovely combination.

Tags: peter jackson, the lovely bones
Posted in Inspiration, Random Blathering | No Comments »

Sunshiny Day

A New Year, a New Home

Bright Star

Passage ~ New Paintings

A Funny Thing

New Show!

Anna Wolf Photography

Photographing Paintings

Pressure Cooker

A Lovely Inside Day

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