Atelier Blog

My artistic life and how I work

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.

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.

Tisa pilots the Century through Chippewa Bay

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.