Lisa Nelson Raabe

My current paintings have come out of experiments that are founded on working with forms and substances. I’m intrigued by how materials transform because of saturation, in chemical combinations, with heat and pressure dying and transforming paper. Some begin with plant dyes and metal mordants, others with bronze and steel filings and traditional patina methods. Color ranging from rust, blacks, and gold to greens and blues emerge. These spontaneous forms lead me to respond with bits of nature, glass microspheres, pigments, paper, and pigment to bring out an emotional kind of place found within each work.

Thread is an essential drawing tool I use to create rhythmic zigzags, circuitous curves, and crystalized forms. These are adhered or sewn into the paper. Working like a textile artist, I create on both sides of a page, sometimes washing, bleaching, and ironing. Securing a panel enhances what was once fluid and pliable and allows it to become a painting. My techniques and the resulting paintings reflect and cultivate patience, inner calm, and an optimistic vision.