Tag Archives: art for sale

Rumpelstiltskin is my name

What a fun, energetic reception! The Brothers Grimm Fairy Tale show opened tonight at the Portland’5 Center for the Arts, where it will be on view until the end of May. I’m honored to be included in this show, especially now that I’ve seen the other art. So many fascinating and beautiful interpretations of these stories, including some of the lesser-known tales. It’s worth a look so if you’re in the area, stop in and check it out!

"Rumpelstiltskin," by Lisa Griffen. Mixed media outsider art painting on 20x16" canvas. Currently available at Portland'5 Center for the Arts.

“Rumpelstiltskin,” by Lisa Griffen. Mixed media outsider art painting on 20×16″ canvas. Currently available at Portland’5 Center for the Arts.

Old Soul

Lisa Griffen, Old Soul, mixed media on 8x8" wood.

Lisa Griffen, Old Soul, mixed media on 8×8″ wood.

This is the fourth of my ten paintings for the Big 500 show at Peoples Art in Portland. There was about half a day when I considered painting over the figure that was emerging in this painting but I kept going with it and I love the way it turned out.

Sunday was the deadline so my paintings are all turned in. This is my third year doing this show and it now feels like an annual tradition: get the Big 500 paintings done and then the holiday season really starts!

Red Scarf

Lisa Griffen, Red Scarf, mixed media on 8x8" wood.

Lisa Griffen, Red Scarf, mixed media on 8×8″ wood.

Baby, it’s cold outside. She’s all dressed up in her scarf but her nose is still red.

This is the third of my ten paintings for the 8th annual Big 500 show at Peoples Art in Portland. It opens Saturday, Dec 12 with a high-energy reception and runs through mid-January.

Pajama Party for One

Lisa Griffen, Pajama Party for One, mixed media on 8x8" wood.

Lisa Griffen, Pajama Party for One, mixed media on 8×8″ wood.

This little piggy has his PJ’s on and he’s ready for fun! My second painting finished for the Big 500 show at Peoples Art in Portland, which opens December 12 at 2 pm with a huge reception.

Wise Beyond Your Years

Lisa Griffen, Wise Beyond Your Years, mixed media on 8x8" wood.

Lisa Griffen, Wise Beyond Your Years, mixed media on 8×8″ wood.

This is my first painting finished for the Big 500 show at Peoples Art in Portland. This is my third time participating. Every year I get my boards and plan to finish my paintings before Thanksgiving…and every year I’m still working on them at the start of December! One down and nine to go!

The show opens with a huge reception on December 12 at 2 pm, with music, snacks, a canned food drive for the Oregon Food Bank, and thousands of pieces of original art priced at $40 each. It’s always a good time and I’m looking forward to being a part of it again.

Handful of Stars

Handful of Stars, mixed media outsider art painting on 18x24" canvas. $270.

Handful of Stars, mixed media outsider art painting on 18×24″ canvas. $270.

This is one of those paintings that didn’t want to come together for ages, until it suddenly did. I’d like to figure out what it is that sparks that resolution, because it would make my painting process a lot faster! And then this little lady lingered on the easel all summer because I’ve been so busy I didn’t have time to put the finishing touches on her. It was great to get back into the studio last week and finally finish her. This isn’t a very good photo, because I snapped it hastily before she went off to People’s Art in Portland for their So Many Days, So Many Dead show that opens on October 17. The show hangs until November 15, so stop by to see her and three more of my paintings in person!

Solo show at New Seasons

Wishbone. Original mixed media outsider art painting on 16x20" canvas. $200.

Wishbone. Original mixed media outsider art painting on 16×20″ canvas. $200.

I’ve had a bad cold since returning from vacation, but made it out of bed this morning to hang my solo show at the Cedar Hills New Seasons cafe with lots of help from my sweet husband. Wishbone and 12 other animal-themed paintings will be there until the end of September.

Art Fest

Art Fest is coming soon! This Saturday, July 11, members of the The Green Cab artists’ group will be showing art, talking art and making art at the studio of Helvi Smith in Forest Grove.

We’ll be there from 10 am to 4 pm, counting our blessings that the temperature is only supposed to be 81 instead of the 90+ temperatures we’ve had for the past couple of weeks.

I hear the Artosaur, my friend Christine’s latest project (because who doesn’t need a 6 foot sculpture of a T Rex to scope out art events around town?!) will be there too.

Visitor from the Dreamtime

Lisa Griffen, Visitor from the Dreamtime, acrylic and ink on 18x24" canvas.

Lisa Griffen, Visitor from the Dreamtime, acrylic and ink on 18×24″ canvas.

I watched the movie Tracks on Netflix. It’s about Robin Davidson’s solo trek across the Australian desert in the 1970s. Then I read her book, which gave a lot more detail, especially about the Aboriginal people she met along her way. That got me interested in reading about the spirituality of indigenous Australians. I’m especially intrigued by the Creation stories about the Dreamtime.

A few days after I finished all that reading, this figure showed up in my painting, clearly emerging from those explorations.