Local Celebrity: Lisa Solberg, Portrait of an Artist
January 17, 2010
” I don’t try to look like an artist”, says local celebrity, Lisa Solberg. ” I feel like my image is so opposite my work. Anytime someone comes for a studio visit, and hasn’t seen me, or hasn’t seen my work, seeing the two together is a huge shocker. I look more like a socialite…maybe, at times. But, I am who I am. I’m an artist.”
Solberg’s success started at a young age. Although her love of art started when she was a child, she was also an outstanding gymnast(until she grew too tall at the age of 11), and a professional skier in college(after skiing for less than a year). Now, she sells her paintings to collectors all over the world and has been featured in national magazines like Nylon.
Solberg lives in a loft in the Arts District of Downtown Los Angeles.
CK: So why did you move to Downtown Los Angeles?
LS: I was looking at spaces all over. I came and looked at the space moments before I got on my flight back to Chicago. I pretty much signed the lease right then. I felt like what I would be getting here is like a New York within LA. So, it really spoke to me in that respect. I loved everything about the neighborhood. I love any sort of industrial area because there’s always the potential for growth. I like the vibe of it.
CK: Does the industrial landscape inspire your art work?
LS: I feel like my inspiration used to be more direct, because I would travel and come back and paint. I have countless sketch books that are very elaborate, packed and layered with things that I see. There’s drawings in there that would take half a day. But now, the traveling has subsided a little bit, temporarily, because I always feel so inspired just being here. I don’t feel as much of a need to be going away. My inspiration, when I feel it, is basically bursts of energy. I guess it’s inherent and subconscious. Now I almost have to travel to not be inspired. It’s like the roles have reversed a little bit.
CK: Why do you paint in such large scale? 
LS: When I was traveling, I lived in Munich for a while. I was mentored by one of the forefathers of graffiti. His name is LOOMIT . He kinda took me under his wing. Well he’s like this older guy, and he hooked me up with spray cans, and taught me technique, and got me commissioned to do a few big walls in Munich around the World Cup time. I’ve never really been interested in doing actually graffiti. But, it got me working large scale. Now, I feel restricted, first and foremost on a small canvas. I am capable of doing a small canvas, but on small canvases, I see realistic paintings. Large canvases give me so much space to really express what I’m feeling.
CK: How do you start a piece?
LS: I feel like everything comes out of scribbles for me now. When I was in a class in High School, one of my teachers used to tell us in writing session that if we didn’t know what to write, keep writing,’I don’t know what to write. I don’t know what to write. I don’t know what to write.’ After doing that for a while, eventually something would come up. That’s how I view things now. I always start out with a somewhat express or meditative movement scribbles, and that sort of forms somewhat of a composition. Whether or not that initial composition stays, it still kind declares the mood and tone of the piece.
CK: Do you ever throw a painting away? Or do you just work over it?
LS: I’ve never thrown a painting away. I have worked over a few. For some reason, I always sell those ones right away. People don’t know that it used to be another painting. I did a painting of Vincent Gallo as a vampire. Everyone loved it, but no one bought it. It had such a weird energy. It really spoke to people, but no one really wanted to own it. And so I painted over it. And it sold within two days. It’s kinda funny.
CK: What mediums do you use in your work?
LS: I use everything…a lot of house paint. I use acrylic, oil, china markers, oil markers. I use spray paint for patches of color. I have experimented with bleach.
CK: Do you have a favorite painting?
LS: Yeah, I think right now it’s Land Red Down. It’s my first painting where I’m using this sort of invisible waterfall-splotches of color mixed with oil and markers to blend. The movement from top right to bottom left is reminiscent of a waterfall or a willow tree. It kind of just came naturally. It got me on this whole tangent on working with that sort of movement. I filmed this one. I think it’s really important for people to see my process–especially for the style, which is somewhat abstract expressionism. A lot of people are like, I could do this, or my kids could do this. But there’s a lot more that goes into it. And it really connects people to it when they can see the process. (Click on Video below to watch creation of Land Red Down)
CK: When you’re not working, where do you hang out downtown?
LS: Wurstkuche. I’m a vegetarian, I always get Veggie Italian Sausage. The over all vibe of that place is amazing. It kind of runs parallel with the vibe of this neighborhood…It’s understated but really cool. It’s not necessarily trying to be anything that it’s not naturally. I love it for that reason. It’s really drawing an interesting crowd. Not one specific kind of person goes there. Everyone goes there and everyone enjoys it in the same way. And the communal seating is great.
CK: Anywhere else?
LS: I love Church & State. The food is delicious. I love going to Varnish. I like places that deliver a great product, that also pride themselves almost 50% in the actual atmosphere.
CK: So what’s next for you?
LS: I just did an interview with Elle magazine. And I was asked to donate one of my pieces to The Art of Elysium Gala, which is exciting. I’m talking with Red Bull. I’ve always wanted to something with them.They have funding for high profile events and I personally really enjoy and thrive off of doing live art events (where I paint). That’s a special niche. I’ve done it a few times–including for a hotel opening in West Hollywood. I thrive off of people watching me. I like feeling people’s energy while I paint. I go crazy off of that. I really love it.
For more info on Solberg,and to see more of her work, check out her website here.
Arts District Open Studio Tour December 5th #DTLA
December 3, 2009
My neighbor, artist Lisa Solberg, sent me the information about the Arts District Open Studio tour this weekend, as her studio is one of the stops on the self-guided circuit.
ARTS DISTRICT OPEN STUDIO TOUR
Saturday, December 5th
Noon- 7pm
Downtown Los Angeles Arts District
Holiday Limousine shuttle service
WRAP AFTERPARTY @: EAST 3RD STEAKHOUSE from 7pm to 2pm hosted by Edgar Varela and Jerico.
“On December 5th, the TRUE Downtown Arts District will open the doors of cafés, galleries, performance venues, and 40 studios (and counting) in the first of a new Open Studio Tour series.
Since Bohemian squatters were followed by controversial city zoning in 1981, this turn of the century industrial neighborhood has had everything from crack dens to half-empty high-rises confusing its reputation within the city.
Regardless of public opinion (or awareness), artists, designers, architects, writers, and performers new and old have continued to make extensive and impressive work in the area. The December event is part holiday season Art Walk, part cultural reminder that the post-industrial downtown never stopped producing. The district also hosts internationally well-known graffiti walls that draw many visitors on a daily basis.
The self-guided tour will include lofts (821 Traction Ave; the Toy Factory and more), private galleries as EVFA Gallery, Tarryn & Theresa Gallery and ADC Gallery and many of the areas well-known restaurants as Metropol, Zip Fusion, e3rd and Wurstkuche. Bordered by Alameda on the west, the Los Angeles River on the east, Temple on the North and 7th Street on the South, the parameters are contiguous enough that a shuttle will make rounds on the quarter-hour.”
LOFTS AND STUDIOS PARTICIPATING: Traction Avenue Lofts (traction Avenue), Neptune Building (E. 3rd Street), Art Share LA (with group exhibition, holiday Bazaar and children performances 1pm and 5pm, Crazy Gideon store front (Traction Ave), Café Metropol (3rd Street) , 900 Building (1st/Vignes), River Front Loft (Santa Fe Ave), Toy Warehouse Loft (Santa Fe Ave), Barker Block, Toy Factory Lofts – Daniel Lahoda Fine Arts – Biscuit Lofts – 1820 Studios – LACE building (Industrial Street), Factory Place Lofts (Factory Place), EVFA (on Alameda, Seaton Street Lofts (Seaton Street)
Here are all the participants.
A – TRACTION AND 3RD STREET:
——————————-
Traction Avenue/Hewett:
Arts Share LA – http://www.artsharela.org – 213. 687. 4278
Gallery and Holiday Boutique Bazaar:
Qathryn Brehm – holiday bazaar -www.qathryn.com -310. 365. 6460
Sia Aryai – photography – http://www.fotonostalgia .com -
Paul Batou – paintings – http://www.paulbatou.com
Gaia Bracco -www.myspace.com/gaiapaintings,
Jessica Shokrian – photography, other – jessicashokrian.com
Kris Cahill – paintings – http://www.kriscahill.com-
Suzi Moon – paintings, other – http://www.suzimoon.net
Rick Mendoza – photography – rickmendoza.com – 26. 975. 0784 – rickmendoza@mac.com
Luisa Lorona – handmade journals, jewelry, other
Mark Walker – evolve – http://www.evolvelifewear.com – 917. 721. 7766
Christopher A. Como – http://www.christopheralancomo.blogspot.com
Lola Escarpita – http://www.lolaescarpita.com
Celeste Pronce – http://www.celesteprince.com
D – 821 Traction Loft:
——————————-
Milo Sill – #105 – Mixed media -213. 626. 3662
Robert Reynolds – # 101 – Sculptures -www.roberthreynolds.com -323. 599. 8485
Kim Abeles & Ken – # 110 – Installation, Sculpture, Photography – http://www.kimabeles.com -213.604.1972
Roger East – # 104 – mixed media -www.rogereastartist.com -818. 414. 4166
E – 837 Traction Loft:
—————————————————Robin De Vick – #204 – painted fabric / furniture -rldv@hotmail.com -213. 596. 1705
Jeremy Quinn / Michele Jaquis- Rise Industries – #307
- video, installation,. sound, works on paper
wwwjeremyjquinn.net -www.makemusicmike.com – http://www.riseindustries.org
Sia Arayi – # 310 – photography. editions-www.fotonostalgia.com – info@fotonostalgia.com 213. 617. 9001
B – 810 East 3rd Loft unit 45 – off Traction ave:
—————————————————David Hollen – Sculpture -www.hollenart.com – 213. 617. 1007
Emmeric James Konrad – live painting – emmerickonrad@yahoo.com – 213. 925. 8934
C – 808 1/2 East 3rd Loft :
—————————————————Davi Goldner – photography – http://www.davidgoldner.com – 213. 620. 1751 – photographics@davidgoldner.com
F – Neptune Building – 710 E. 3rd Street:
—————————————————Rick Robinson collection -# 320 – on facebook – rirobinson@macdonaldmedia.com -
Mac Donald Media offices -213. 680. 3094
Restaurants (at 3rd and Traction):
—————————————————1 – Ay Caramba – 714 Traction Ave.- Mexican Cuisine
2 – Cafe Metropol – 923 E. 3rd – Restaurant / Wine Bar – Jessica Photography and candles
http://www.cafemetropol.com – 213. 613. 1537
3 – East 3rd Steakhouse – 734 E. 3rd – eastern fusion cuisine -www.eastthird.com -213.820.1414
4 – Novel Cafe – Traction Ave. – Jerico Woggon – Paintings – http://www.cherrymeltdown.com
5 – Wurstkuche – Traction Ave. – sausage and beer
G – 1ST / 900 AND ST. FE:
—————————————————900 E. 1st street -Building:
Oloyga – # 305 – GOUP SHOW:
Ashley GIbbons
Emily Becklin
Frances Garretson
Caroline Kim
agibb13@gmail.com
H – 120 Vignes Building:
—————————————————Birgitte Moos – #202 – Paintings – http://www.birgittemoos.com – birgitte@birgittemoos.com – 213. 245. 7130
I – River Front lofts – 201 S. Santa Fe Ave.:
—————————————————Sharon Weinraub: – #307 – Textile design – sharon@sharonweinraubtextiles.com – 213. 392. 0332
Consuela Campos – #200 – Paintings Jewelry – http://www.consuelocampos.com – chachaseven@sbcglobal.net – 213. 625. 7640
Katalyst Foundation for the Arts – Gallery – #200 – http://www.kffta.org -
Show: John Paul Thronton – http://www.johnpaulthornton.com
-www. katalystfoundation@gmail.com – 213. 621. 3175
J – Toy Warehouse Loft – 215 S. Santa Fe Ave.:
—————————————————Valerie Mitchell – #8 – jewelry, wearable objects of art – http://www.valeriemitchell.com – valerie@valeriemitchell.com – 213. 687. 3987
K – BARKER BLOCK – 451 S. Hewitt Street:
—————————————————Barker Block:
K – BB Sales Gallery – Fumiko Amano (paintings) Richard Edson(photography)
http://www.barkerblock.com – sales@barkerblock.com – 213. 620. 9650
6 – Loft Appeal – Furniture and other Loft items – http://www.loftappeal.com – loftappeal@sbcglobal.net – 213. 625. 1725
7 – Cleveland Art – Furniture and other loft items – clevelandart.com
8 – Urth Caffe – breakfast lunch and dinner – http://www.urthcaffe.com – urth@urthcaffe.com – 213. 797. 4535
L – BISCUIT / TOY FACTORY/ 1855 INDUSTRIAL Str.:
—————————————————
Toy Factory Loft:
Jim and Ruth Stern – # 414 -Watercolor, Urban Landscapes, Mixed Media – ruthszoldstren@netscape.net – 323. 654. 3487
Daniel Lahoda Fine Arts – # 104 -Gallery- wwwjetsetgraffiti.com -213.415.1826 – info@lahodafinearts.com
Thomas Garner – # 517 – oil paintings – http://www.tomgarner.com – thgarner@belairmail.net – 310. 709. 7153
Be love yoga – # 10 – Yoga studio – http://www.beloveyoga.com – 310. 266. 8348
9 – ROYAL CLAYTON’S ENGLISH PUB: – british pub food – http://www.royalclaytonsenglishpub.com – 213. 622. 0512
M – 1820 Industrial Studios:
—————————————————Michael Chearney – # 209 – Acrylic Paintings – http://www.michaelchearney.com – chearneym@mac.com – 323. 334. 5820
Hope Railey – #203 – Oils/ Charcoal – http://www.hoperailey.com – hope@hoperailey.com – 415. 596. 8233
Tarryn Theresa – #230 – Gallery – http://www.tarrynteresagallery.com – 213. 627. 5100
Jerry Weems – # 217 – jerryweems2004@yahoo.com – 951. 212. 2367
Kim West – #218 – paintings – http://www.kimwest.com – emailkimwest@gmail.com – 323. 333. 0978
John Papapavlos – #112 – johnpapapavlos@yahoo.com – 323. 363. 5138
Walker – #213 – http://www.walkereads.com – 323. 333. 9230 -walkereads@sbcglobal.net
Common Space: groupshow
—————————————-
David Grieco – http://www.dgrieco.com -310.621.6053 -david@dgrieco.com
Peri Shefik – lamps – perihan@earthlink.net
Margery Epstein – jewelry – http://www.storyjewels.com – 323. 691. 9491 – m_e@storyjewels.com
Jerico Woggon – paintings/blacklight art – http://www.cherrymeltdown.com – jerico@cherrymeltdown.com – 213. 700. 9115
Anna Broome – paintings – http://www.acbroome.com – anna.broome@gmail.com – 310. 384. 0005
Lilli Muller – sculptures – http://www.lillimuller.com – lillim99@gmail.com – 213. 247. 8800
Yuri Elvin – Paintings – http://www.yurielvin.com – yurielvin@yahoo.com – 323. 823. 7766
N – LACE Building – 1804 Industrial Str.:
—————————————————Lisa Solberg – APT. A – http://www.lisasolberg.com – lisa@lisasolberg.com- 224. 456. 9843
P – FACTORY PLACE LOFTS – 1308 Factory Place:
—————————————————
Karen Fiorte – #111 – Printmaking – http://www.karenfiorto.com – 310. 868. 6058 -
ADC Contemporary Arts – Complex Building 1 – Gallery – http://www.artdecollectors.com – adcgallery@gmail.com – 323. 839. 5786
Ramorley Photography – #213 -www.ramorley.com – studio@ramorley.com – 310. 435. 3817
Anton Godard – #406 – acrylic paintings – godard@yahoo.com – 213. 304. 7787
Donna Louise Serone – #406 – donnaserone@yahoo.com – 626. 399. 2323
Beyond Lite – #004 – http://www.beyondlite.com – maria@beyondlite.com – 213. 265. 5218
Cherry Wood -#309 -oil, watercolor – http://www.cherrywoodstudio.com – cherry@cherrywoodstudio.com – 213. 842. 2232
Art Jordan – #306 -abstract monotypes, photography – jordanaa@pacbell.net – 213. 624. 6201
Michael Russek – #201 and 003 – http://www.1028designs.com – mike @10128designs.com – 310. 956. 5394
Lana Shuttleworth – # 001 – sculptural paintings – http://www.shuttleworth.us – 213. 505. 1749
Nancy Kay Turner – # 010 – mixed media, paper, canvas, – http://www.nancykayturner.com – 626. 755. 7298
O – 6th Street Lofts:
—————————————————
1259 E. 6TH STREET:
Johnny Cubert White – C- loft – photography – johnny.cubert@gmail.com -213.793. 1752
Ryan Ross – C- loft – Mixed Media – http://www.ryanross.com – glassrobot@gmail.com – 310. 991 . 4527
Gustavo Alberto – C loft – painting – gustoLA@hotmail.com – 310. 384. 9926
Heather Lembcke, Caroline Maxwell, Kevin Bentz
- B loft – http://www.heatherlembcke.com – 858. 382. 7105
1247 E. 6TH STREET:
DAP – Mark Walsh- sculptures/ metal – mark@downtownartistproject.org – 213. 620. 8599
Q – 542 S. ALAMEDA, 2nd floor / entrance Palmetto:
—————————————————
EVFA – Gallery -www.evfa.com -
Show: New Works by Tommy Mose Abbott
R – 454 Seaton Street:
—————————————————
David Coldwell – #3 – Paintings – 213. 999. 7140
Open Space:
—————————————————
TL Nagano – conceptual installation – http://www.mrdowntownla.com – 213. 621. 7665 – mrdowntownla@hotmail.com
For more information, contact Lilli Muller at lillim99@gmail.com or visit the facebook site.
