Meet the Artist: Lisa Sharpe
The ART of Good Vibrations: an exhibition of high frequency artworks by Lisa Sharpe open until 24th October. Wholly uplifting and particularly pertinent, this exhibition showcases the last four years of Lisa’s work. With a focus on making the ethereal into the physical, we caught up with Lisa to talk all things good vibrations…
Lisa Sharpe
Let’s start with something simple; what's your idea of perfect happiness?
Inner peace, inner alignment
And which living person do you most admire?
Do you know, there isn’t any one person that I could pick – it’s people’s characteristics that I admire, it doesn't matter who that person is… I admire integrity, compassion, vision, courage and empathy. I admire those who focus on creating peace and unity.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
My boys.
What is your most treasured possession?
I have learnt not to be attached to things. What I value most is love - my love for my family. I have found letting go of the attachment to things an amazing place to be, it's the greatest sense of freedom…
So was there a pivotal moment when you decided to follow your path as an artist?
Yes, I had a total burnout, I had briefly been to art school years earlier, but I had pushed it to one side. Then 13 years ago I was leaving my job in a big Mayfair gallery when a red double decker bus drove past advertising a horror movie; and I just thought: that's so depressing, wouldn't it be so much nicer if it was an amazing uplifting message? I can trace it back to that precise moment when I felt it would be so much nicer if somebody could feel better that day because they had seen a message that said ‘I believe in you.’ And nearly every single day of my life since then, that has been my focus. I started writing from that moment and the painting came later; they started as separate practices but now they are totally and completely one. They are both basically about connecting & uplifting: I wanted it to be open and accessible. At the core of everything, I’m saying to the viewer - you matter. That's really what it's all about: reminding people that they matter. I want them to feel a connection to the work and to each other. 25 years in the art world has taught me to be wary of the emperor's new clothes syndrome. I want my work to be accessible, it's so much more than just a painting, it’s basically a connection that I'm trying to try to create between me and the viewer. And that has been my biggest challenge to try to communicate that.
Of all the mediums, why paint?
I've painted since I was a child. It's just the most expressive, and I discovered these amazing high frequency paints from Switzerland: they are charged with bio-information, similar to homeopathy. All the paints are charged with energetic frequencies from plants, music and crystals: a lot of the paints are also used for art therapy. I also add my own personal blend of British flower essences to my paints.
How does this affect the process of making your work?
The process… I have to clear myself energetically: I believe that every artist puts a bit of themselves into their artwork and therefore it's really important that I clear my own energy. So I meditate. I always have crystals in my pockets and in my studio. My studio is in a part of my garden and that keeps me grounded and I only paint when I'm in a good place. The process is very much about a partnership with paint: I do not dictate how it is going to be, I have no idea, it’s basically letting energy flow through me. I obviously choose the colours, but I do not have a pre-determined idea as to how they're going to come together. Often my biggest challenge is getting my head out of the way and working only from my heart.
I often paint towards the end of the day when the light is changing, when I can't really see what I'm doing so clearly. And very often the best work appears there and therefore I don't see it to the morning. It's not like you might imagine, it is very much always about getting out of the way. And that's the biggest struggle is not trying to dictate how it is going to be ahead of the moment. It's all about energy, flow and letting go.
How has it been at the Nutshell?
It’s been absolutely wonderful! Everyone is engaging and enthusiastic: it’s been great to be a part of such a vibrant, living breathing Arts Centre. It’s heart-warming to see and hear young talent being nurtured in all the Arts and impressive to see painting and life drawing classes taking place on a regular basis.