Meet Lisa Rissmiller: Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lisa Rissmiller and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lisa, what are you inspired by?
Water made me an artist. I grew up in it. As an infant my family moved from the city of Atlanta to the suburbs. We settled in a ranch style house with a pool. I swam before I could walk. Vacations always included rivers, lakes, oceans, or hotels with pools. I have never felt at home far from a body of water. I am fascinated by the way it feels against my skin, the sound it makes splashing, lapping, and rolling, the way it lives through movement, the different smells of different bodies of water, and the quiet solitude that can be found within it. As an artist I share my experience and explore the nature of fluidity through the element of water. It is a reoccurring theme in my work, either through the use of specific colors and images or the movement of the paint across the surface. Depth, distance, the silence of immersion, turbulence, and topography are examined throughout the pieces. My landscapesque paintings are both macro and micro views. The viewer is thus challenged to add the distance perceived by bringing their unique experience with water into play with each painting.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art is about shared energy between the paint, the canvas and me, as well as, the viewer. There’s an excitement in the experimental style of applying paint without a brush and exploring the unknown aspects of finding self in color and movement. It’s not easy or hard. It just is. It’s a process of revealing. I’ve learned to move out of the comfort of certainty and acknowledge that growth comes from uncertainty and chances taken. Play is everything!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My favorite places to eat, drink, shop, and hang out are in downtown Decatur. One day’s itinerary must include local art galleries and end with a pub crawl of my favorite pubs and restaurants. A trip to The High Museum of Art is also a must. The collections there are always superb. I must admit though that my favorite part is the building itself. The architecture is breathtaking and enhances any piece of art hanging within. We’d probably do some hiking around the lake at Stone Mountain or drive to the Blue Ridge Mountains and check out all the local waterfalls. Grilling and chilling by the pool would finish out the visit and allow for planning the next one.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Callen Schaub, Artist: I don’t know Callen but his art has inspired me to experiment, play, and find joy in the creative process. Brian Rutenberg, Artist: Beyond his art, Brian’s writing has been inspirational for me in so many ways. He’s a great down to earth guy. I told him once he was going to be my mentor. This hasn’t happened yet, but maybe this shoutout will help. Thanks Bri.

Website: www.lisarissmiller.com
Instagram: lisarissmillerart
Facebook: lisa rissmiller art