Atelier Blog

My artistic life and how I work

Blog No. 5, 12-26-2026, "Paradise" Becomes Fragments

Sometimes I can’t get a painting to work, there are too many ideas that cause confusion. Something just isn't right, but answers don't come. What I am calling Fragments are pieces of a bigger image that did not work. I am defining these as wounded paintings. The example I'm showing here, "Paradise", is one such painting.

The idea for fragments came when I was cleaning out old work during my move from my house in Clayton, NY. I was tired of looking at these old paintings for which I had no hope. I ripped several of them up to get rid of them. Scott saw them and said, "some of these torn pieces are nice little paintings, way better than the original". Maybe there was hope?

Once the idea was hatched, many original works were cut into smaller pieces, concentrating on creating interesting compositions. Two templates were used to keep them a uniform size, so they will easily fit into stock frames. Viewing the work through these templates allowed me to pick just the right design.

It has been fun to go in to these new small paintings and add to them using paint and ink. I've enjoyed the process while realizing that fragments can take on a new life separated from the original whole.

“Paradise” was a 22” x 40” fluid acrylic on paper. It was painted for the passing of my dear friend Frederic Lasaygues. I worked on it as we corresponded between the USA and his home in France during his last hours before he died. Years later, I took a closer look trying to pick up the pieces of Frederic’s passing. Like pieces of a puzzle, I have reworked the cut pieces of the whole into new stories. Some of these reminding me of past travels and museum visits with Frederic. All of the examples below are Fragments taken from "Paradise" I hope you enjoy them and appreciate the journey they took to make it here. The size of each piece is included with the title.

Windy Day at the Dunes, 4"x6"

Waterfall Abstraction, 5"x7"

Pink Sails, 5"x7"

The Beet, 4"x6"

The Passage, 7"x5"

Click HERE to BUY your own Fragment!

Ariel View, 6"x4"

Sultry Night by the Balustrade, 5"x7"

Meditation, 5"x7"

May Pole, Rites of Spring, 5"x7"

Dance of the Colors, 5"x7"

Click here to be redirected to Fragments

Blog No. 4, 1-7-2026, When I see a blank canvas...

"Red Chair at the River"

Scott stretched a 60” by 72” (5 by 6ft.) canvas that he intended for himself. It was during our work to complete Atelier 291 in Hammond, NY. He was busy getting ready for our grand opening on August 1, 2025. The electrical work, the lighting, the fans, and installing the circular stained-glass “Mermaid” to mention a few endeavors.

Burying the electrical line.

Building the front porch.

The mermaid stained glass.

I could not resist: looking at the new view overlooking Crossover Island Lighthouse near where ships cross from the Canadian into the US channel and then staring at a huge clean white canvas! Scott was running errands (probably to the Amish, or Lowe’s or Harbor Freight). So I got to work.

Here are the various steps that began on June 28, 2025 and finally completed on October 4, 2025.

The blank canvas.

Step 2

Step 4

Step 6

Step 1

Step 3

Step 5

Step 7

“Red Chair At The River” is now on display at the beautiful “River Yoga” Studio. River Yoga offers fabulous classes and holistic services located at 234 James Street, Clayton, NY.

Check out riveryoga.net or stop in to meet the owner Liz Price-Kellogg.

Imagine yourself meditating in the Red Chair!

At River Yoga, Clayton, NY

Tisa seated in front of the painting.

Blog No. 3, 12-7-2025, A Challenge

Patience and interaction can bring the best ideas.

It was the longest boat ride so far in our "new to us" 1973 18' Century Resorter. Rough water at times as we headed upriver from Chippewa in late spring of 2025 to visit the location, shoot reference images, and most importantly, get more input from the clients. The ideas for this commission had not come to us easily up until now, but things were finally coming together many months after the project was first proposed.

Tisa pilots the Century through Chippewa Bay

This commission was first proposed during the summer of 2024, and try as we might, the necessary parts didn't fall into place. We had headed south for the winter and realized we didn't have the source material to get started. We called our friends Sarah Ellen and Curt who still had a boat on the river. They were kind enough to take some images for us.

The images were great for drawing reference, but the fall colors weren't going to provide the needed inspiration.

Sarah Ellen & Curt enjoy a late November ride.

This commission was a challenge! Not feeling a direction yet, we put it aside knowing that patience would eventually guide us. The clients were understanding and patient as well. They wanted the best result as much as we did.

Jump forward to our trip upriver from the beginning of this blog. We shot reference photos and talked with the clients at the location. We now had a better idea of the scope of the subject.

First images were taken from the boat on arrival.

Side view of the home.

Getting closer.

The gardens are important to the clients.

We headed back downriver with promises to create some preliminary sketches from these reference images.

We met again for a discussion with these sketches over cocktails and then dinner. A plan was hatched. It is important for an artist to realize that what is in their head may be totally different than what the client is visualizing. Sketches help both parties understand in what direction the project is heading.

In this case it was decided that only one view wasn't enough, they are all so interesting. A multiple view composition is difficult and here is where they clients have to trust the artist. We returned home with a plan and got to work.

A sketch showing the final composition.

After a pencil drawing by Scott, Tisa came in with color.

Tisa works on color with the painting going through many stages. She works with the pencil drawing while adding her own shapes which deviate from the original drawing.

Once Tisa is satisfied with the color, Scott begins using ink to go over the pencil drawing as well as emphasizing the new colorful shapes.

A detail of the final painting.

The completed work, watercolor and ink, 22" x "30 on d'arches paper.

Blog No. 2, 11-24-2025, "Whispers"

Sometimes a photo is just not enough...

FYI, this commission was a request made perhaps 3 years ago! I was hesitant because I vaguely knew the location. But I was able to visit the site after moving near to the area of Chippewa Bay, NY. Chippewa Bay is downriver from Clayton where my gallery was formerly.

After spending time in Chippewa Bay, I became familiar with the surroundings of the subject location. Getting to know the subject is very important to my way of working. I wanted to be able to breath, feel, and see the spot which I did during numerous boat rides thanks to my boat-loving husband Scott. Various photos were taken at different times of day.

My client had created a burnt etching of the scene which is included in the photos. My assignment was stated as, ”Tisa paint the image in your style and use your bright tropical colors!” (This color scheme is foreign to the area, I might add.)

I have included the numerous stages of the painting that started in June of 2025 and was completed in October. At times, I felt like a florist arranging and constantly altering the floral pots. I also cannot paint a straight line, so Scott helped me a bit on that. Part of the way through this project, I injured my knee, this hampered progress as I couldn't stand up for long periods.

Take a look please…

"Whispers" 24" x 36" Acrylic on Canvas

Blog No. 1, 5-25-2025, My Artistic Struggle

I am not a painter that has the ability or the desire to make simply a realistic rendering of my subject. Rather, I am a designer that tries to use the imagination “what if” instead of “here is a photocopy of…”

For example:

1. The actual blue vase

2. The drawing and the beginning of watercolor

3. Smooth going.

4. The Struggle- Should I stop???

5. Keep going into darkness or the rabbit-hole. Did I go too far?

6. Rendering the Solution, with balance and harmony.

7. Finished work with a personal critique.

8. The painting’s setting.