The Proof: Lisa Geddes

Posted 21st August 2012 by Kassia OConnor

I am a mixed media painter currently working with acrylic paint. I enjoy the flexibility available with the medium. Opacity and transparency, layering, textured grounds, mark making, photo transfer and collaging are things I am exploring with acrylics. The natural landscape is a powerful source of inspiration for my work. Living in Whistler surrounded by incredible beauty and changing seasons provides an endless amount of material to work from. My main focus is to interpret my surroundings in an expressive rather than purely representational way. I am increasingly drawn to abstraction and interpretive expression as a means to illustrate my experience of the landscape physically, viscerally and metaphorically. I am most interested in expressing this experience of place or state of mind and hope that the viewer has a visceral reaction to my paintings as well as a visual one.

My family and I have been full time Whistler residents for three years after being part-time weekenders and summer residents for more than ten years. I am married and have three active children: Nick age 19, Xander, 17 and Sarah, 10. My sons are elite downhill mountain bike racers and avid skiers. My daughter enjoys all things creative relating to fashion and design and is a competitive trampoline athlete. My husband has a competitive athletic background and takes advantage of the amazing athletic opportunities Whistler presents from alpine, and cross country skiing to road and cross country mountain biking. I am much less adrenaline driven preferring mountain trail hikes or runs, cross country skiing and general fitness activities at the rec centre… and painting of course!

The Photos

01 Looking out from my studio – the driveway is not super inspiring but the forest just beyond draws me out.

02 I love my studio but unfortunately it doubles as a second guest room. Right now it’s taken over by summer visitors and downhill mountain bikers staying with us during crankworx… paints are all put away but they sure do call me… sigh… I’ll need to wait a while longer until i can get back at it!
03 This is what my studio usually looks like when I’m busy creating.
04 Me on a trail. I like this shot! Maybe i’ll use it as a photo transfer in one of my paintings… hmm… gives me a cool idea!
05 This is a photo I took as an inspiration for my new series ‘rooted’. I like to play with opposites when working on a theme (rooted/uprooted).
06 A little collage I did.
07 One of the cool things I discover when I pay attention on my walks and runs through the woods. Who put that there? It’s awesome!
08 A favourite summer supper! I love to make food art too. Or rather I cook intuitively inspired by the aromas, flavours, colours and textures that appeal to me in the moment of creation! It feels like more of a celebration that way – and of course a nice glass of wine is the perfect accompaniment.

The Questions

What neighbourhood do you live in?
I live in Alpine Meadows in a house at the end of a road next to a creek and the forest. It’s an awesome spot!

What do you do and where?
I’m a visual artist and have a studio in my house. I’m also a wife and mom of three kids (19, 17 and 10) so that means I’m busy with mom stuff a lot – too much sometimes because it can keep me from my art more than I like.

What are you working on?
Right now I have my art on hold because I’m playing host (cook/housekeeper/shopper…) for my two teen racing sons and other big hungry mountain bikers staying with us for Crankworx! Fun as well as work but I’ll have to wait until summer ends to start back at my new series of paintings titled “Rooted”.

Where can we find your work?
My work is at Art Junction Gallery here in Whistler in Function Junction as well as at my friend’s cool store on Main Street in Vancouver called Bird On A Wire Creations.