Artists Lisa Wiser and Jan Rimerman

Lisa Wiser’s paintings are filled with vibrant color and exhibit a keen interest in both the natural and built environments. She draws inspiration from frequent travel adventures and the scenic northwest to create watercolor and acrylic paintings. Her work is characterized by bold color and simplistic and strong value contrasts.

Moody landscapes, a meandering pathway, architectural relics, and voluptuous fruit forms are common themes found in Lisa’s work. Her realistic style reflects the traditional training received while studying art and art history for a year in Perugia, Italy prior to receiving a BS in Art Education from the University of Oregon in 1978. Lisa expounds, “I have stood in awe before some of the most influential artworks created in the Western world and the impact of their compositional elements has been my greatest teacher and inspiration.”

Wiser credits her father, architect Curtis Finch, for teaching her technical drawing skills at an early age here in Lake Oswego. Recent pursuits in life drawing and plein air painting confirms that she prefers the direct association with her subjects while working from life both outdoors and in the studio. Lisa attends life drawing sessions twice a week to keep her drawing skills sharp and works from still life set ups in her home studio when she cannot be outdoors.

Other art pursuits include, travel photography, curating exhibits, substitute teaching in local high school art classrooms and serving on various art association committees and boards. She is looking forward to an exhibit of her paintings in May and June of 2014 in tandem with her father’s sculptural works at the Lodge Gallery at Black Butte Ranch in Sisters Oregon. See more of Lisa Wiser’s work at: www.lisawiser.com
 

Jan Rimerman studied art at Willamette University, University of Washington and abroad. She is influenced by turtles, travels and curiosity. Jan lived in Germany and London after growing up in Lake Oswego. Traveling many times to Europe, Indonesia, South America and spending a month in China has allowed her to study many kinds of art past and present. One of Rimerman’s best art adventures was painting in Monet’s garden with Charlotte Abernathy having only gardeners as company.

The subtle changes in light and shadow capture Jan’s attention. Collecting ideas from nature and subtly painting them on a stone underwater or in the energy of a cloud creates the mystery within the layers of the paintings. Combining color, texture and shape allows the viewer to weave their own story delving into their own mythologies.

Rimerman’s work is recognized by unexpected color combinations unusual use of light. The painting technique originates with a powdered charcoal under-painting. The gravelly texture lends an appearance of depth. The charcoal is sealed with workable fixative and acrylic gel. Twenty-two layers of color are then applied. Due to the multiple layers of transparent fluid acrylics the paintings have an uncommon luminosity which changes in different lights, seasons and angles.

Jan has several leadership roles in the arts community including curating the Open Show at the Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts, organizing the Art Show for Lake Oswego Reads, and curating in several local venues including the 510 Museum & ARTspace Gallery. She also gives lectures, workshops and juries shows throughout the Pacific Northwest.
See more of Jan Rimerman’s work at: www.janrimerman.com plus the Portland Art Museum Rental Sales Gallery, LOCAL 14 Show, Sitka Invitational, the Blackfish Gallery in LaConner, Washington and Orcas Open Studios on Orcas Island.

Artwork credits (top to bottom): Riomaggiore Morning by Lisa Wiser, Beach Haven Sunrise by Jan Rimerman, Evening Splendor by Jan Rimerman